Archives Scrapbooks

Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V. Rinse, repeat.

Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, May 1973-March 1978

ARCH.2003.39, Rendition: 806521

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

This appears to be a scanned copy of a newspaper article from the "Boston Globe" dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The headline reads, "Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard." The article discusses a significant theft of ancient Greek and Roman coins from the Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum. It mentions the value of the stolen coins exceeding $5 million.

The article includes a photograph of the coin room at the Fogg Art Museum, showing shattered display cases on the floor, indicating the extent of the robbery. There is also a small inset image of a 5th-century BC coin from Athens, which is mentioned as being similar to those stolen.

The article is divided into two main sections. The first section discusses the theft, providing details about the value of the coins, the amount stolen, and the context of the robbery. The second section, titled "Coins tell history of 2 empires," is a separate article that discusses the historical and cultural significance of the coins.

The newspaper has a vintage appearance with aged paper and a simple layout, typical of newspapers from the mid-20th century. The article also includes a note at the bottom of the page crediting UPI for the photograph.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

This is a scanned newspaper clipping from the Boston Globe, dated Monday morning, December 3, 1973. The headline reads, "Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard." The article discusses the theft of ancient Greek and Roman coins, valued at over $5 million, from the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. The robbery occurred on the previous day around 1 a.m. and involved a 3-foot-square safe containing 2,650 mostly silver Greek coins and 3,000 gold, silver, and bronze Greek and Roman coins taken from display cases.

The clipping includes a photograph showing the aftermath of the theft, with display cases and debris on the floor. A caption under the photo describes the scene as the "coin room at Harvard's Fogg Art Museum after the theft of thousands of rare Greek and Roman coins."

Another section of the clipping, titled "Coins tell history of 2 empires," discusses the historical significance of the stolen coins and their value as teaching resources. It mentions that the coins could have been used for bartering in ancient times and their importance in understanding the economics, religion, and politics of the Greco-Roman world.

The clipping is mounted on a brown paper background with two holes punched at the top, likely for filing purposes. The text is written by Robert L. Ward and Joe Pilati, both Globe Staff writers.

Qwen, qwen.qwen3-vl-235b-a22b

This image shows a preserved newspaper clipping from the Boston Globe, dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The clipping is mounted on a tan or light brown cardstock, which has two punched holes at the top, suggesting it was filed or stored in a binder. The newspaper page is marked with “BOSTON GLOBE” handwritten in red ink above the headline.


Headline & Main Story

The main headline reads:

“Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard”

by Robert L. Ward, Globe Staff.

The article reports on a major theft of ancient Greek and Roman coins from Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum. The coins, whose total value is estimated to exceed $5 million, were stolen overnight. The theft is reported as the largest in history involving rare coins, surpassing a previous record of $1.5 million.

Specific details:

  • A 3-foot-square safe was broken into and contained 2,650 Greek coins, mostly silver.
  • Another 3,000 coins (Greek and Roman, in gold, silver, and bronze) were taken from open display cases on the same floor.
  • The FBI and museum officials initially estimated losses between $1 million and $5 million, though the full amount would take time to determine.
  • The coins were not insured by the university, according to museum director Daniel Robbins, who called the robbery “madness.”
  • A photo insert shows a 5th Century BC coin from Athens, similar to those stolen.

Photograph

To the left of the article, there’s a black-and-white photo captioned:

“Display cases litter floor in the coin room at Harvard’s Fogg Art Museum after the theft of thousands of rare Greek and Roman coins. (UPI)”

The photo depicts a chaotic scene: the floor is scattered with dozens of small, rectangular display boxes or trays, suggesting a hurried and destructive theft. In the background, you can see a doorway marked “COIN ROOM,” shelves, and what appears to be a desk and chair. The room looks ransacked.


Related Article

Below the main story is a smaller article titled:

“Coins tell history of 2 empires”

by Joe Pilati, Globe Staff.

It discusses the historical and educational value of the stolen coins, noting they constitute “a vast treasury of information about economics, religion and politics of the Greek-Roman world.” It quotes David Gordon Mitten, associate curator of ancient art, lamenting the loss as “obliterating” a fundamental teaching resource.


Additional Details

  • The newspaper lists: “40 Pages — 15 Cents”
  • Telephone number: “388-8000”
  • References to “POGG, Page 3” and “MUSEUM, Page 3” indicate the story continues elsewhere in the paper.

Overall Context

This clipping documents a notorious 1973 art theft—the largest coin heist in history at the time—from a major university museum. The story underscores not only the immense monetary value of the stolen items but also their irreplaceable cultural and educational significance. The clipped, filed format suggests this was preserved for archival or research purposes, likely due to the historical weight of the event.

Note: The actual coins were never recovered, and the case remains unsolved.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image depicts a newspaper clipping from the Boston Globe, dated December 3, 1973. The headline reads "Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard," indicating a significant theft at Harvard University. The article is written by Robert I. Ward and Joe Piasli, and it is accompanied by a photograph of a broken display case in the coin room at Harvard's Fogg Art Museum. The article details the theft of ancient Greek and Roman coins, some of which are believed to be worth millions of dollars. The museum director, Daniel Robbins, expresses his shock and disbelief at the theft, and the article also includes a quote from David Gordon Mitten, an associate curator at the museum, who describes the stolen coins as a "fundamental part of our teaching resources." The article provides information about the potential value of the stolen coins and the impact of the theft on the museum's collection and educational resources.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

A newspaper article is about the theft of coins from Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum. The article includes an image of the coin room and mentions that the coins were worth millions of dollars. The article also includes a quote from the museum director, Daniel Robbins, who said that the coins were taken by an unknown robber. The article also mentions that the coins were taken from the museum's collection of ancient Greek and Roman coins, which is considered to be the largest in history.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image is a scanned front page of the Boston Globe dated Monday Morning, December 4, 1972. The headline prominently displayed is:

"Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard"

Key Details from the Image:

  1. Headline and Subheading:

    • The main headline emphasizes the theft of valuable coins from Harvard University.
    • A subheading introduces the story as a significant robbery involving ancient Greek and Roman coins.
  2. Visual Elements:

    • Left Side (Image):
      • A photograph shows the interior of a coin room at Harvard's Fogg Art Museum.
      • Display cases are visible, some of which appear to be empty or disturbed, indicating the aftermath of the theft.
      • The caption below the image reads: "Display cases litter floor in the coin room at Harvard's Fogg Art Museum after the theft of thousands of rare Greek and Roman coins. (UPI)"
    • Right Side (Illustration):
      • An illustration of an ancient coin is shown, labeled as a "6th Century BC coin from Athens, similar to those stolen from the Fogg Museum at Harvard."
      • This visual reinforces the story's focus on the historical and monetary value of the stolen items.
  3. Article Content:

    • The article is attributed to Robert L. Ward, Globe Staff.
    • It details the theft, which occurred around 1 a.m. yesterday (December 3, 1972).
    • The stolen coins include:
      • Ancient Greek and Roman coins, with an estimated value exceeding $5 million.
      • The coins are described as the largest holding in history, believed to be the largest in history, including pieces from the Willis H. Du Pont Collection.
      • The coins were stored in a 3-foot-square safe in a room on the museum's third floor, which was broken into.
    • The article mentions that the coins were not insured, and the loss is expected to be $5 million or more.
    • James Newberry, a special agent, initially estimated the loss at over $1 million, but later revised it upward.
    • The museum's director, Daniel Robbins, stated that the coins were not insured and that the university had not yet learned the full extent of the loss.
    • The article also references a 6th Century BC coin from Athens, similar to those stolen, to highlight the historical significance of the theft.
  4. Additional Article:

    • Below the main story, there is a secondary headline: "Coins tell history of 2 empires", written by Joe Pisani.
    • This article discusses the historical and cultural value of ancient coins, referencing the theft and its implications for understanding ancient civilizations.
  5. Publication Details:

    • The newspaper is identified as the Boston Globe.
    • The date is clearly marked as Monday Morning, December 4, 1972.
    • The page number is 40 Pages, and the price is 15 Cents.
    • A telephone number (388-8000) is listed at the top right.

Overall Impression:

The image captures a significant news story about a high-profile theft of ancient coins from Harvard's Fogg Art Museum. The combination of the bold headline, the photograph of the disturbed coin room, and the detailed article text underscores the historical, monetary, and cultural importance of the stolen items. The inclusion of an ancient coin illustration further emphasizes the story's focus on the value and significance of the artifacts.

Meta, us.meta.llama3-2-90b-instruct-v1:0

This image is a newspaper clipping from the Boston Globe, dated Monday morning, December 3, 1973. The headline reads "Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard" and features a photograph of a room with a sign that says "Coin Room." The article discusses the theft of ancient Greek and Roman coins from the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, which were valued at millions of dollars. The clipping is attached to a piece of brown paper with two holes punched at the top, suggesting it was part of a larger document or archive. Overall, the image provides a glimpse into a significant event in the history of art and culture, highlighting the importance of preserving and protecting valuable artifacts.

Meta, us.meta.llama3-2-11b-instruct-v1:0

The image shows a newspaper clipping from the Boston Globe, dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The clipping is about a robbery at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum, where ancient Greek and Roman coins worth millions were stolen.

  • Newspaper Clipping
    • The clipping is from the Boston Globe.
    • It is dated Monday, December 3, 1973.
    • The headline reads "Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard."
  • Article Content
    • The article reports on a robbery at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum.
    • The thieves stole ancient Greek and Roman coins worth millions.
    • The FBI is investigating the crime.
  • Image
    • There is a photo of the coin room at Harvard's Fogg Art Museum after the theft.
    • The photo shows a display case with coins on the floor and papers scattered around.
  • Additional Information
    • The article mentions that the FBI is still investigating the crime and has not yet identified any suspects.
    • The museum director, Daniel Robbins, said that the coins were not insured by the museum.

In summary, the newspaper clipping reports on a robbery at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum, where ancient Greek and Roman coins worth millions were stolen. The FBI is investigating the crime, and the museum director has stated that the coins were not insured by the museum.

Meta, us.meta.llama4-maverick-17b-instruct-v1:0

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Boston Globe, dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The clipping is attached to a piece of brown paper with two holes punched at the top, suggesting it was once part of a binder or scrapbook.

The headline of the article reads "Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard" in large black font. Below the headline, there is a subheading that states "Ancient Greek and Roman coins, worth an excess of $5 million, were taken about 9 a.m. yesterday, in an armed robbery at Harvard University."

To the left of the article, there is a black-and-white photograph showing the aftermath of the theft. The photo depicts a room with broken display cases and scattered coins on the floor. The caption below the photo reads, "Display cases litter floor in the coin room at Harvard's Fogg Art Museum after the theft of thousands of rare Greek and Roman coins."

The article provides more details about the robbery, including the estimated value of the stolen coins and the investigation into the crime. It also mentions that the coins were not insured by the museum.

Overall, the image presents a historical news article about a significant theft at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum in 1973.

Meta, us.meta.llama4-scout-17b-instruct-v1:0

The image presents a vintage newspaper clipping from the Boston Globe, dated Monday morning, December 3, 1973. The article's headline reads: "Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard."

Newspaper Clipping Details:

  • Date: Monday morning, December 3, 1973
  • Newspaper: Boston Globe
  • Headline: "Coins worth millions stolen from Harvard"

Article Summary:

The article reports on a significant theft at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum, where approximately 2,500 Greek and Roman coins were stolen. The coins, valued between $1 million and $5 million, were taken from a 2-foot-square safe in the museum's third floor. The theft is believed to be the largest in history involving rare coins.

Key Points:

  • Theft Details:
    • Date: December 2, 1973 (around 1 a.m.)
    • Location: Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University
    • Items Stolen: Approximately 2,500 Greek and Roman coins
    • Value: Between $1 million and $5 million
  • Investigation:
    • FBI investigation underway
    • Coins may have been melted down for their silver and gold content

Additional Information:

  • The coins were not insured.
  • The theft is considered one of the largest in history involving rare coins.
  • The coins were part of a vast treasury of information about economics, religion, and everyday life in ancient Greece and Rome.

Visuals:

  • A black-and-white photograph of the coin room at the Fogg Art Museum, showing display cases littered on the floor after the theft.
  • An image of a 5th-century BC coin from Athens, stolen from the Fogg Museum at Harvard.

Overall:

The newspaper clipping provides a detailed account of the significant theft at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum, highlighting the value and historical significance of the stolen coins.