[MSN] A rare Roman coin has returned to Greece from Britain after a landmark settlement, which Athens hopes will bring back more classical treasures.

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Greece gets rare Roman coin back 
By Malcolm Brabant 
BBC News, Athens  


A rare Roman coin has returned to Greece from Britain after a landmark
settlement, which Athens hopes will bring back more classical treasures. 
The 1st-Century denarius - equivalent to a day's wages for a Roman foot
soldier or labourer - is set to be unveiled at the Greek Culture Ministry. 

A British coin dealer is urging the Greek government to start paying market
rates to those who find antiquities. 

The coin was handed over after Greece proved it had been unearthed
illegally. 

A year ago, the London coin dealer Classical Numismatic Group paid £12,500
($23,000) for the silver denarius, minted by Brutus in 42 BC after he
participated in the murder of the emperor Julius Caesar. 

Compensation plea 

Eric McFadden, director of the dealership, said they made the purchase from
two Greeks, in good faith. 

But the Greek embassy in London proved that the coin had been illegally
excavated, probably from the Roman city of Philippi, in the province of
Macedonia. 

Mr McFadden's dealership handed the coin to the Greek embassy earlier this
month, after Athens successfully invoked a European Union directive which
demands that stolen cultural objects be returned to the country of origin. 

Greece insists that all antiquities are the property of the state and must
be surrendered without compensation. 

Mr McFadden argues that confiscating antiquities without a reward is a prime
reason that so many ancient treasures are either melted down or sold to
private dealers. 

He says there is no incentive to report important historical discoveries and
has urged the Greek government to start paying finders the market value, as
usually happens in Britain with treasure trove. 

The two Greek men who sold the coin were forced to hand over the £12,500
proceeds to British customs as they attempted to leave the country last
year. 

There is due to be a magistrates court hearing at Harlow in August, where
the two sellers will be invited to explain why they should be given the
money back. 

The British coin dealer's lawyer Phillip Barden told the BBC he was hopeful
the magistrates would award Mr McFadden the money. 

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/5117366.stm