Archives Scrapbooks

This image is a scan of a newspaper front page from "The Harvard Crimson," dated December 3, 1973. The headline reads, "Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million." The article discusses a robbery that occurred at the Fogg Art Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where a group of thieves, with at least one armed, stole over 5000 ancient coins with a potential value of up to $5 million. The article mentions that the coins, made of gold, silver, and bronze, were minted between the seventh century B.C. and the fourth century A.D. It also notes that the Fogg Art Museum's coin room was ransacked, and that the coins were valued at over $1 million and could be as high as $5 million. The article includes a photograph of the coin room, which shows scattered papers and objects on the floor, indicating the aftermath of the robbery. There is also a note at the bottom mentioning that the article continues on page 5.

This image shows the front page of "The Harvard Crimson," a newspaper from Cambridge, Massachusetts, dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The headline reads: "Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million." The article is written by Richard J. Meislin.

The page features a photograph of the ransacked coin room at the Fogg Art Museum, with debris scattered on the floor. The caption below the photograph states: "Thieves ransacked the Fogg Museum's coin room yesterday, scooping up Greek and Roman artifacts which may be worth up to $5 million. Photo—Rick Stafford."

The article discusses the details of the theft, mentioning that the thieves took about 3000 Greek and Roman coins from storage drawers and removed a safe containing 2650 additional Greek coins. The coins are valued at up to $5 million, and the robbery is described as the largest art theft in the history of the United States. The article also mentions the director of the Fogg Museum, Daniel J. Robbins, and other officials' comments on the incident.

The top right corner of the page notes the weather as "Sunny and Windy," and the price of the newspaper is listed as fifteen cents.

This image displays the front page of The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper of Harvard University, dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The paper is printed on aged, yellowish newsprint and is mounted on a slightly larger, beige paper backing, which has two punched holes along the right edge—likely for filing in a binder.

The masthead, “The Harvard Crimson,” is printed in a large, bold serif font at the top. Below it, the location and date are noted: “CAMBRIDGE, MASS., MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1973.” The price, “FIFTEEN CENTS,” is printed in the top right corner, along with a small weather forecast: “The Weather — Sunny and Windy.”

Headline:
The main headline reads:
“Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million”

Written by Richard J. Meislin, the article details a major theft from the Fogg Museum at Harvard University. According to the report, a group of thieves, at least one of them armed, entered the museum early the previous morning and stole more than 5,000 ancient coins — chiefly Greek and Roman — from the museum’s coin room. The coins, minted between the 7th century B.C. and the 4th century A.D., were valued at up to $5 million.

The article quotes Daniel Steiner, general counsel to the University, who confirmed the theft of 2,650 additional Greek coins, and Daniel J. Robbins, director of the Fogg, who called the loss “an incalculable loss to the study of art history and the ancient world.” He also noted that eight rare Greek coins stolen from a Fogg display the previous spring were not taken in this heist.

Photograph:
On the left side of the page is a black-and-white photograph (photo credit to Rick Stafford) showing the aftermath of the robbery in the museum’s coin room. The room is visibly ransacked — papers are strewn across the floor, files and drawers are pulled open or toppled, and a display case or storage tray lies overturned. The caption below the photo reads:
“Thieves ransacked the Fogg Museum’s coin room yesterday, scooping up Greek and Roman artifacts which may be worth up to $5 million.”

At the bottom right, the article continues with the note “(continued on page 5),” indicating the story spans multiple pages in the newspaper.

Overall Impression:
The image captures a significant historical event — one of the largest art thefts in U.S. history at the time — as reported by a campus newspaper. The layout is typical of 1970s newspaper design, with a mix of large headline typography, dense text, and a single impactful photograph. The aged paper and physical mounting suggest this is a preserved archival copy.

Note: In reality, the coins were eventually recovered, and the case remains unsolved to this day, making it one of the most famous unsolved museum heists in American history.

The picture shows a newspaper clipping with a headline that reads "Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million." The clipping is placed on a brown surface, which might be a folder. The clipping is from "The Harvard Crimson" newspaper, dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The clipping features a photograph of the museum's coins room, which appears to have been ransacked. The room has cabinets, a desk, and a chair, and the floor is covered with scattered coins and papers. The clipping also includes a quote from a museum official, who estimates the value of the stolen coins to be around $5 million.

The image is a scanned copy of a newspaper clipping from the Harvard Crimson, dated December 3, 1973. The headline reads, "Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million." The clipping includes a photo of a messy room with coins scattered on the floor, suggesting a break-in or theft. The text provides details about the theft, stating that a group of thieves entered the Fogg Art Museum early that morning and stole at least 2650 modern Greek coins, valued at up to $5 million.

The image shows the front page of The Harvard Crimson, a student newspaper, dated Monday, December 3, 1973, from Cambridge, Massachusetts. The headline prominently features a major news story: "Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million."

Visual Elements:

1. Headline:
   The main headline is bold and eye-catching, emphasizing the theft of 5,000 coins from the Fogg Museum, with an estimated value of up to $5 million.

2. Subheadline and Byline:
   Below the headline, it is noted that the article is by Richard Meislin. The subheadline provides context, stating that the thieves, armed, entered the Fogg Art Museum early that morning and stole more than 5,000 ancient coins valued at up to $5 million.

3. Image:
   To the left of the text, there is a black-and-white photograph depicting the interior of the Fogg Museum's coin room. The room appears disorganized, with desks, chairs, and scattered items, suggesting the aftermath of the theft. The caption beneath the image reads:
   "Thieves ransacked the Fogg Museum's coin room yesterday, scooping up Greek and Roman artifacts which may be worth up to $5 million."
   The photo is credited to Nick Stafford.

4. Additional Text:
   The article snippet provides details about the theft, including:

   • The thieves took approximately 3,000 Greek and Roman coins from storage drawers in a safe.
   • The coins include artifacts dating from the seventh century B.C. to the fourth century A.D.
   • The robbery is described as the largest art theft in the history of the United States.
   • Daniel Steiner, general counsel to the University, stated that the coins were made of gold, silver, and bronze.
   • The value of the coins is still being assessed, with estimates ranging from $1 million to as high as $5 million.
   • Daniel J. Robbins, director of the Fogg, commented that the coins are "solely unassailable to any thief" and that selling them through underground channels is nearly impossible.
   • The article also mentions that the coins were not insured.

5. Other Sections:

   • The top right corner includes a weather forecast titled "The Weather", indicating "Sunny and Windy."
   • The newspaper’s price is listed as Fifteen Cents.

Contextual Details:

• The article is from December 3, 1973, placing the event in a historical context.
• The Fogg Museum is associated with Harvard University, as indicated by the newspaper’s name, The Harvard Crimson.
• The theft involved a significant loss of culturally and historically valuable artifacts, highlighting the impact on academic and artistic study.

This image captures a significant news event involving a high-profile art heist, with visual and textual elements that convey the gravity and intrigue of the situation.

The image displays a newspaper clipping from "The Harvard Crimson," dated Monday, December 3, 1973, with a headline that reads "Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million." The article, written by Richard M. Nisula, is about a group of thieves who entered the Fogg Art Museum early, stealing more than 5000 ancient coins valued at up to $5 million. The photo accompanying the article shows a ransacked coin room with papers, coin holders, and other items scattered all over the place, indicating the aftermath of the robbery.

Below the article's main headline is a smaller caption: "Thieves ransacked the Fogg Museum's coin room yesterday, scooping up Greek and Roman artifacts that may be worth up to $5 million." A credit indicates the photo was taken by Nils Hasselmo.

The newspaper clipping itself is mounted on a brown background, potentially a display board or a folder, held in place by one visible corner mounting piece.

The image displays what appears to be a scrapbook page featuring a newspaper clipping from The Harvard Crimson, dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The article is about a significant coin heist at the Fogg Museum at Harvard University. The headline reads:

"Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million."

The photo within the article shows a room in disarray, labeled as the museum's coin room. Items are scattered on the floor, including small objects resembling coins, papers, and an opened storage case. A caption under the image notes the room was ransacked by thieves who stole ancient Greek and Roman coins.

The article discusses the theft, estimated values, and the potential historical significance of the stolen artifacts, emphasizing that the robbery was potentially the largest of its kind in U.S. history at the time. The clipping is mounted on a brown background, with a hole punched on the right, suggesting it was preserved in a binder or archival document.

This image depicts a newspaper clipping from "The Harvard Crimson," dated Monday, December 3, 1973. The headline reads: "Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million." The article is written by Richard J. Meislin.

The accompanying black and white photograph shows a cluttered room, identified as the Fogg Museum's coin room, in disarray with drawers open and various items, including what appear to be trays or boxes, scattered across the floor. The caption under the photo states: "Thieves ransacked the Fogg Museum’s coin room yesterday, scooping up Greek and Roman artifacts which may be worth up to $5 million."

The article details the theft of over 5000 ancient coins, mostly Greek and Roman, believed to be the largest art theft in the history of the United States. It mentions that the stolen coins are made of gold, silver, and bronze, minted between the seventh century B.C. and the fourth century A.D. The article provides quotes from Daniel Steiner, a general counsel to the University, and Daniel J. Robbins, director of the Fogg Museum, discussing the impact and significance of the theft. It also mentions that the coins stored elsewhere included eight rare Greek coins from a Fogg display from the previous spring. The article states that the investigation is ongoing with involvement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The newspaper price is listed as fifteen cents, the weather is noted as sunny and windy, and the publication location is Cambridge, Massachusetts. The image is mounted on a brown backing paper with two punch holes visible on the right side.

A vintage newspaper clipping mounted on brown paper.

• It’s a Harvard Crimson front page from Cambridge, Mass., Monday, December 3, 1973 (price: fifteen cents).
• Main headline: “Thieves Net 5000 Coins In Heist at Fogg Museum; Value May Be $5 Million” with byline by Richard Meislin.
• Left: A black-and-white photo of a disorderly room at the Fogg Museum, with papers and display cases knocked over. Caption notes thieves ransacking the coin room and the potential value of the artifacts (up to $5 million).
• Right: A column of the article detailing the theft, the recovered coins, and related information.
• Top right includes a weather note: “The Weather: Sunny and Windy.”

Overall, a 1970s crime-news clipping about a major museum coin heist.