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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, May 1973-March 1978

ARCH.2003.39, Rendition: 806535

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The image appears to be a page from a newsletter or a report, likely from the Fogg Art Museum, dated February 1974. The document is titled "Rare Coins are Stolen" and discusses the theft of a significant collection of coins from the Fogg Museum. The text explains that on December 2, 1974, the entire coin collection was stolen by armed robbers who held up the night watchman. The collection, which is described as a fundamental part of the museum's teaching resources, is noted to be invaluable for study and research. The collection includes Greek and Roman coins, primarily bronze and silver, and a few gold coins ranging from 700 B.C. to 400 A.D., along with eight hundred American coins from the Harvard College Coin Collection.

At the top of the page, there is a note mentioning "Silver Sicilian coins stolen from the Fogg (obverse sides portrayed)", with three images of ancient coins displayed next to the text. The document highlights the importance of the collection for classical studies and archaeology and expresses concern about the potential loss of valuable historical and scholarly resources. The text also mentions that a full-scale investigation by the Cambridge police and the FBI is ongoing, and coin dealers and numismatists are being notified and cooperating in the search. The page is bound in a folder with a hole punch on the left side.

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This image shows a document clipped to a brown folder or board. The document appears to be a newsletter titled "Fogg Newsletter," dated February 1974 (Vol. No. 1). The content of the newsletter discusses the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Art Museum.

At the top of the document, there are images of three ancient coins, described as "Silver Sicilian coins stolen from the Fogg (obverse sides portrayed)." The text explains that the theft occurred early in the morning of December 2, and the coins were stolen by a group of armed robbers who held up the night watchman. The collection includes coins primarily from Greek and Roman civilizations, ranging in date from 700 B.C. to 400 A.D., and some American coins from the Harvard College Coin Collection. The total number of missing coins is nearly six thousand.

The document also mentions that the collection is a fundamental part of the teaching resources at the museum, and its value lies in its use for study and research. It was established in 1948-49 and has been used by students and professors in various disciplines. The newsletter concludes with a quote from David Gordon Mitten, Associate Curator of Ancient Art and Professor of Classical Art and Archaeology, emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of the coins for educational purposes.

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This image displays a single page from a scrapbook or archival folder, consisting of a printed newspaper clipping mounted on a tan, three-hole-punched paper background.

The Clipping:

The clipping is titled “Fogg Newsletter” with the date Feb. 16, 1974 (Vol. 5, No. 1) handwritten in red ink at the top left.

At the top right, a caption reads: “Silver Stellate coins stolen from the Fogg (obverse sides portrayed)”. Below this caption are three images of ancient coins, showing their obverse (front) sides: one depicting a human head, one an eagle, and one a horse.

The main headline of the article is “RARE COINS ARE STOLEN”.

Article Summary:

The article reports on a significant theft that occurred at Harvard’s Fogg Museum on the morning of December 2, 1973. A group of armed robbers held up the night watchman, stole "virtually the entire Fogg coin collection" — approximately six thousand coins — and fled. At the time of publication, the coins had not been recovered, and an investigation was underway with the Cambridge police and the FBI. The museum had notified coin dealers and numismatists worldwide.

The stolen collection primarily consisted of ancient Greek and Roman coins (bronze, silver, and some gold) dating from 700 B.C. to 400 A.D., plus about 800 American coins. The article quotes David Gordon Mitten, Associate Curator of Ancient Art and Professor of Classical Art and Archaeology, who emphasized the collection’s irreplaceable value as a “fundamental part of our teaching resources” used frequently by students and professors across various disciplines.

The article notes that although no formal courses on numismatics were offered at Harvard, students interested in the field could still receive significant training using these resources. It also mentions that the Fogg’s Coin Room was established in 1948-49 and incorporated several important pre-existing collections, including one from the Harvard College Library and another belonging to Harvard.

Visual Details of the Scrapbook Page:

  • The clipping is affixed to a larger, aged, light brown paper, likely cardstock or file folder paper.
  • The paper has three evenly spaced hole punches along its left margin.
  • The clipping itself is composed of two separate pieces of paper taped vertically together.
  • The overall presentation is that of a preserved historical document, documenting a major theft from a prestigious academic museum.

In essence, the image is a historical record documenting the theft of the Fogg Museum’s entire coin collection in 1973, highlighting its academic importance and the ongoing investigation at the time.

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A brown-colored paper is attached to a gray surface with two holes on the left side. The paper has a piece of paper with some text and three images of coins attached to it. The text is in black font and has a red border around it. The text reads "Rare Coins Are Stolen," and the three coins are in different colors. The paper appears to be a news article.

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The image is a scanned page from an old newsletter, likely from the Fogg Museum at Harvard University. The newsletter is titled "Fogg Newsletter," dated February 1974, and it discusses the theft of rare coins from the museum's collection. The page features a small, white paper cutout with images of three coins, two of which are silver coins, and one is a bronze coin. The text on the cutout reads "RARE COINS ARE STOLEN," and it provides details about the theft and the potential impact on scholarship. The main body of the newsletter is written in a smaller font and discusses the theft in more detail, mentioning that the coins were stolen during the night watchman's shift and that the investigation is ongoing. The newsletter also highlights the importance of the coins for teaching and research, as well as their historical and cultural significance.

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The image depicts a page from a newsletter or informational document titled "Fogg Newsletter", dated February 1974 (Vol. 3, No. 1). The page is printed on a light brown cardstock and features a header at the top with the newsletter's name and issue details.

Key Elements of the Image:

Header:

  • The top of the page includes a handwritten note that reads: "Fogg Newsletter Feb. 1974 (Vol. 3, No. 1)."
  • There is also a small illustration or graphic in the header showing three coins: one on the left, one in the middle, and one on the right. The coins appear to be ancient or numismatic artifacts, with intricate designs.

Main Text:

The page contains a news article titled "RARE COINS ARE STOLEN", which reports on a significant theft of coins from the Fogg Art Museum (now known as the Harvard Art Museums). The article provides the following details:

  1. Theft Incident:

    • The theft occurred early in the morning on December 2.
    • A band of armed robbers stole the entire Fogg coin collection.
    • The thieves held up a night watchman and escaped with the collection.
  2. Investigation:

    • The theft is being investigated by Cambridge police and the FBI.
    • Despite the investigation, the coins have not been recovered.
  3. Notification:

    • Coin dealers and prominent numismatists worldwide have been notified of the theft by the Museum and are cooperating in the search.
  4. Details of the Stolen Collection:

    • The collection primarily consisted of Greek and Roman coins, including:
      • Bronze and silver coins dating from 700 B.C. to A.D. 400.
      • Eight hundred American coins, part of the Harvard College Coin Collection.
    • In total, nearly six thousand coins were stolen.
  5. Value and Significance:

    • The collection was described as the "constituents’ funds"—a vital part of the museum's teaching resources.
    • David Gordon Mitten, Associate Curator of Art and Archaeology at the Fogg, emphasized the irreplaceable value of the coins for study and research.
    • The coins were used as a storehouse of factual data on numerous aspects of Greco-Roman civilization, including religion, economics, politics, and more.
    • They were frequently used by students and faculty in courses on numismatics.
  6. The Fogg Coin Room:

    • The Coin Room at the Fogg was established in 1948–49, incorporating collections from the sixteenth century.
    • It had been housed in the Harvard College Library since the sixteenth century.
    • Another collection belonging to the Harvard Library was also affected.

Visual Elements:

  • Coins in the Header: The three coins depicted in the header likely represent examples from the stolen collection. They appear to be ancient coins with detailed engravings, possibly symbolizing the historical and cultural value of the stolen items.

Context:

  • The newsletter serves as an official communication from the Fogg Art Museum, informing readers about the theft and its implications for scholarship and education.
  • The tone is formal and informative, emphasizing the gravity of the loss and the ongoing efforts to recover the stolen items.

Summary:

The image shows a page from the Fogg Newsletter (February 1974, Vol. 3, No. 1) detailing the theft of a significant numismatic collection from the Fogg Art Museum. The article highlights the scale of the theft, the ongoing investigation, and the irreplaceable value of the stolen coins for academic and research purposes. The visual elements, including the coins in the header, reinforce the theme of the theft and its impact on the museum's resources.

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The image features a scanned page from a newsletter, dated February 1974, with the title "RARE COINS ARE STOLEN" prominently displayed in red text. The article discusses the theft of a significant collection of coins from the Fogg Museum, highlighting the rarity and value of the stolen items.

Key Points:

  • Title and Date: The title is written in red text at the top of the page, with the date "Feb. 1974" handwritten in red ink.
  • Article Content: The article reports on the theft of a collection of rare coins from the Fogg Museum, including Greek and Roman coins, as well as gold and silver coins.
  • Value and Significance: The article notes that the stolen coins are highly valuable and significant, with some dating back to 700 B.C. to 400 A.D.
  • Investigation: The article mentions that the Cambridge police and FBI are investigating the theft, but no arrests have been made.
  • Impact: The theft has caused a significant loss to the Fogg Museum and the academic community, as the stolen coins are an important part of the museum's collection.
  • Response: The article concludes by stating that the museum is cooperating with the authorities and is working to recover the stolen coins.

Visual Elements:

  • Scan Quality: The scan quality is good, with clear text and images.
  • Background: The background of the image is a light gray color.
  • Border: There is a darker gray border around the image.

Conclusion:

The image provides a detailed account of the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Museum, highlighting the significance and value of the stolen items. The article also notes the ongoing investigation and the impact of the theft on the museum and the academic community.

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

The image depicts a page from a newsletter or journal, featuring an article about the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Museum. The article is accompanied by three images of coins at the top, with handwritten notes in red ink indicating that it is a "Fogg Newsletter" from February 1974.

Key Features:

  • Article: The article discusses the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Museum, including details about the stolen items and the investigation.
  • Coin Images: Three images of coins are displayed at the top of the page, showcasing their design and features.
  • Handwritten Notes: Red ink notes indicate that the page is from a "Fogg Newsletter" dated February 1974.
  • Page Layout: The page has a beige background with a hole punched in the left margin, suggesting that it was once part of a binder or folder.
  • Overall Appearance: The image appears to be a scanned or photographed copy of the original page, with a slightly faded or yellowed appearance due to age or digitization.

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

The image depicts a document with a news article clipped from a newsletter, titled "Fogg Newsletter Feb. 1974 (Vol. 1) No. 1." The article is about the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Museum at Harvard University.

  • The document is placed on a brown paper background.
    • The paper has two holes punched on the left side, indicating that it was once part of a binder or folder.
    • The paper is slightly creased and has a rough texture.
  • The news article is clipped from a newsletter.
    • The title of the newsletter is written in red ink at the top of the clipping.
    • The article is dated February 1974 and is labeled as Volume 1, Number 1.
  • The article discusses the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Museum.
    • The coins were stolen by a band of armed robbers who held up the night watchman.
    • The investigation is ongoing, and the FBI is involved.
    • The coins stolen include Greek and Roman coins, primarily bronze and silver, and some gold coins.
    • The collection constitutes a "fundamental part of our teaching resources," according to David Gordon Mitten, Associate Curator of Ancient Art and Archaeology.
    • The value of the coins lies not only in their monetary worth but also in their historical significance and research potential.
    • The Coin Room at the Fogg was established in 1948-49, incorporating several important coin collections.
    • Although no courses on numismatics per se are offered at Harvard, students interested in becoming numismatists have been able to receive significant grounding in the field.

The image provides a detailed account of the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Museum at Harvard University, highlighting the significance of the stolen coins and the impact of the theft on the museum's collection and research capabilities.

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The image presents a scanned document, likely a newsletter or article, featuring a prominent headline that reads "RARE COINS ARE STOLEN" in bold red text. The document is printed on white paper and appears to be attached to a brown folder with two holes punched on the left side.

Document Details:

  • Headline: "RARE COINS ARE STOLEN" in bold red text
  • Title: "Fogg Newsletter Feb. 1974 (Vol. 1, No. 1)" in black text
  • Content: The article discusses the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Museum, including a collection of Greek and Roman coins, and provides details about the stolen items and the investigation
  • Images: Three small images of coins are displayed at the top of the document

Folder Details:

  • Color: Brown
  • Holes: Two holes punched on the left side
  • Attachment: The document is attached to the folder using a small piece of tape

Background:

  • Color: Gray

Overall, the image suggests that the document is a newsletter or article about a significant event, specifically the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Museum. The use of a bold headline and images of coins adds visual interest to the document.