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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, May 1973-March 1978

ARCH.2003.39, Rendition: 806524

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The image is a scanned copy of a newspaper article titled "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions" from the Boston Herald American, dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The article discusses a theft of ancient coins from Harvard University's Fogg Museum. It mentions that around four thieves entered the museum on a pretext and were able to rob nearly 6,000 ancient coins, estimated to be worth between $1 million and $5 million. The article includes a photograph of the Fogg Museum, a coin from the stolen collection, and a brief sidebar ad about a bank offering "Absolutely Free Checking." The text is in black and white, typical of newspaper clippings from that era.

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

This image appears to be a newspaper clipping mounted on a piece of cardboard. The newspaper articles are from the Boston Herald American, dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The main headline reads "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions" and is written by Alex MacPhail. The article discusses a significant theft of ancient coins from Harvard University's Fogg Museum, with a loss estimated in the millions of dollars.

The article provides details about the theft, including the time it occurred, the method used by the thieves, and the potential motives. It mentions that the theft took place early in the morning, and the thieves entered the museum through a side entrance. The article also notes that the coins are so well known that the thieves may try to sell them back to the museum rather than trying to dispose of them on the open market.

There is a photograph accompanying the article, showing the exterior of the Fogg Museum with two people standing near the entrance. The caption of the photo reads, "MILLIONS of dollars in coins stolen from Fogg Museum."

Another article on the right side of the clipping is titled "$5M Coin Robbery" and provides additional details about the theft, including the involvement of the FBI and the potential ransom theories.

At the bottom right of the clipping, there is an advertisement for "Absolutely Free Checking" from New England Merchants Bank.

The overall theme of the clipping is the significant loss due to the theft of valuable ancient coins from the Fogg Museum.

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This image displays a historical newspaper clipping mounted on a tan-colored, hole-punched paper or folder, likely for archival purposes. The clipping is from the Boston Herald American, dated Monday, Dec. 3, 1973, and is page 5.

The content of the article is about a major theft at Harvard University’s Fogg Museum. The main headline reads:

“Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions”

Written by Alex MacPhail, the article reports that as many as four thieves stole nearly 900 ancient Greek and Roman coins from the museum’s Quincy Street location in Cambridge, Massachusetts, early on the morning of December 2, 1973.

Key details from the article include:

  • Value: Initial estimates suggest the stolen coins could be worth between $1 million to $5 million, with some specific coins valued at up to $80,000.
  • Method: The thieves, described as “professional,” entered the museum before 1 a.m. They bound night watchman Charles Pearson with a ski hat and took him to the third floor, where the coins were kept.
  • Suspect: Police had a “good suspect,” identified as “Mr. Ryan,” who had earlier posed as a visitor and been allowed to return later with a paper bag. He allegedly met three other men in the museum, who then fled with the loot.
  • Recovery: Three of the men were apprehended a week later in Newport News, Virginia, with several coins recovered. The fourth was later captured.
  • Ransom Theory: Authorities considered the possibility that the theft was motivated by a ransom demand for the coins, but no direct ransom note was issued. The FBI was also involved.

A prominent sub-headline reads: “$5M Coin Robbery”

Below the headline on the right is a small image of a coin, labeled “coins like this stolen.” Another smaller news item to the far right advertises “Absolutely Free Checking” from “The Merchants” bank.

To the left of the main article is a black-and-white photograph captioned:

“MILLIONS of dollars in coins stolen from Fogg Museum.”

The photo shows the exterior of the Fogg Museum — a neoclassical building with columns and steps — with several people standing near the entrance. The photographer is credited as “Ed Lee, Tapestry.”

The entire clipping reflects the urgency and significance of the crime at the time, highlighting both the monetary value and the scholarly loss of irreplaceable artifacts.

Overall, the item is a preserved news artifact documenting one of the most notable museum heists of the 1970s.

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The image shows a newspaper clipping that is pinned to a brown cardboard sheet. The newspaper clipping has a headline that reads "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions." The newspaper clipping also has a subheading that reads "Ransom may be the motive for the multi-million dollar coin robbery at Harvard University's Fogg Museum early yesterday morning." The clipping also has a picture of the Fogg Museum, a picture of a coin, and a picture of a man holding a bag.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Boston Herald American, dated December 3, 1973, with a headline "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions." The clipping features a black-and-white photograph of the Fogg Museum at Harvard University, with a person standing on the steps. The text discusses a theft at the Fogg Museum, where coins worth millions of dollars were stolen. The article mentions that the coins were taken from a display case and that the thief used a white paper bag to conceal the coins. The FBI and Harvard University police are investigating the theft, and the museum's curator, David Gordon Mitten, expressed concern about the loss of the coins, which were a fundamental part of the museum's teaching resources and research.

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

The image depicts a newspaper clipping from the Boston Herald American dated Monday, December 3, 1973, featuring a headline about a significant theft at Harvard University's Fogg Museum. The headline reads "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions" and is attributed to Alex MacPhail. The article details a multi-million-dollar coin robbery that occurred early in the morning, involving the theft of coins from the museum's collection.

Key Elements in the Image:

  1. Headline and Subheadings:

    • The main headline, "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions," is prominently displayed at the top.
    • A subheading, "Ran," is visible, indicating a continuation of a previous story.
    • Another subheading, "$5M Coin Robbery," emphasizes the scale of the theft.
  2. Visual Elements:

    • To the left of the article, there is a photograph showing the exterior of a building, likely the Fogg Museum. The image includes a person standing near the entrance, and the building appears to be a classical structure with columns and steps.
    • A caption below the photograph reads: "MILLIONS of dollars in coins stolen from Fogg Museum (Staff Photo by J.W. Tierney)."
  3. Article Content:

    • The article discusses the theft of coins valued at millions of dollars, including Greek, Roman, and Renaissance coins.
    • It mentions that the coins were taken from the third floor of the museum, where they were stored in a package.
    • The theft was discovered by a security guard who found the package missing.
    • The article quotes officials, including James Russo of the Cambridge Police Department, who described the thief as having a "good suspect" in mind.
    • It also references the involvement of museum officials, such as James F. O'Neil, the assistant director, who estimated the loss to be between $1 and $5 million.
    • The article notes that the coins were part of a valuable collection, including items from the 7th century B.C. to the 14th century A.D.
  4. Additional Text:

    • On the right side of the clipping, there is an advertisement for "The Merchants Bank," promoting features such as "Absolutely Free Checking" with no minimum balance, no regular monthly charges, and no charge for checks when you open an account.
    • The advertisement includes a small logo and the bank's name.
  5. Layout and Design:

    • The clipping is mounted on a brown card or board, suggesting it may have been preserved or displayed for archival or educational purposes.
    • The overall layout is typical of a newspaper page, with the headline, article text, and accompanying photograph arranged in a standard format.

Summary:

The image is a historical newspaper clipping detailing a major coin theft at Harvard University's Fogg Museum in 1973. It combines a vivid photograph of the museum's exterior with a detailed news article describing the theft, its impact, and the investigation. The inclusion of an advertisement for a bank adds context to the era and the format of the newspaper. The clipping serves as a historical document capturing a significant event in the museum's history.

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

The image depicts a newspaper clipping about the Harvard Coin Theft, which occurred in 1973. The article is titled "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions" and features a black-and-white photograph of the Fogg Museum's entrance, where the theft took place.

Key Points:

  • Title: Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions
  • Date: December 2, 1973
  • Newspaper: Boston Herald American
  • Photograph: A black-and-white image of the Fogg Museum's entrance
  • Content: The article discusses the theft of millions of dollars' worth of coins from the Fogg Museum at Harvard University

Summary:

The image shows a newspaper clipping from the Boston Herald American, dated December 2, 1973, reporting on the Harvard Coin Theft. The article includes a photograph of the Fogg Museum's entrance and provides details about the theft, which resulted in a significant loss of millions of dollars.

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

The image depicts a newspaper clipping from the Boston Herald American, dated December 3, 1973, detailing the theft of $5 million in coins from the Harvard University Fogg Museum. The article, titled "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions," describes how thieves entered the museum through a pre-entrance before 1 am on November 24th, using an elevator to reach the third floor where nearly 6000 ancient coins were stolen. The article also mentions that the FBI is investigating the theft and that the coins are worth $5 million. The clipping is attached to a piece of cardboard with two holes at the top, suggesting it may have been part of a scrapbook or collection. The background of the image is a plain gray color.

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

The image presents a newspaper clipping on a beige background, featuring a headline that reads "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions" and is dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The article is from the Boston Herald American.

  • Newspaper Clipping
    • The clipping is torn from the original newspaper and has a rough edge.
    • It is placed on a beige background with two holes punched at the top.
    • The headline "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions" is prominently displayed.
    • The article is written by Alex MacPhail and discusses the theft of coins from Harvard University's Fogg Museum.
    • The theft is estimated to be worth $5 million.
    • The article includes a photograph of the Fogg Museum.
    • The clipping also features an advertisement for "The Merchants" bank, highlighting their "Absolutely Free Checking" account.
  • Background
    • The beige background has a subtle shadow effect around the edges.
    • The overall design suggests that the clipping is being displayed or stored in a file or scrapbook.

In summary, the image showcases a newspaper clipping detailing a significant coin theft at Harvard University's Fogg Museum, with an estimated loss of $5 million. The clipping is presented on a beige background with a simple yet effective design.

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

The image presents a newspaper clipping about a coin robbery at Harvard University's Fogg Museum, mounted on a brown paper background.

  • The main headline of the clipping reads "Harvard Coin Theft Loss in Millions" and is written by Alex MacPhail.
    • The article discusses the theft of millions of dollars' worth of coins from the Fogg Museum at Harvard University.
    • The thief or thieves entered the museum through a pre-arranged window just before 1 a.m.
    • The night watchman, Charles Pearam, was approached at gunpoint before they took an ancient coin vault where nearly 6000 ancient coins were kept.
    • The coins stolen included 2500 Greek coins, more than 1000 Roman coins, and gold, bronze, and silver coins worth $1-$5 million.
    • The ransom theory was explored but ultimately not pursued.
    • The FBI joined the Cambridge and Harvard University police in the investigation.
  • A smaller clipping to the right of the main article is from the Boston Herald American and dated Monday, Dec. 3, 1973.
    • The headline reads "$5M Coin Robbery".
    • The article provides additional details about the robbery, including that it was carried out by an automatic pilot and that the thief was very familiar with the building.
    • The coins recovered were not of great value, and it was noted that unless they are recovered, it would be a tragic loss for scholarship.

In summary, the image shows a newspaper clipping about a significant coin robbery at Harvard University's Fogg Museum, with details about the theft, the investigation, and the value of the stolen coins.