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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.

OpenAI, gpt-4

The image shows a page mounted on a brown surface or background. At the top of the page, there is a label or heading that reads "From Newsletter (Vol. IV, No.1)", followed by a note in handwritten cursive that appears to say "Exp. 1974 (Vol IV No.1)". Below this heading, there are two circular images (possibly photographs of coins) with captions that are too small to read clearly.

The main body of the page consists of a column of text with the bolded headline "RARE COINS ARE STOLEN." The article discusses an incident where coins from a collection were stolen by a night watchman, as indicated by the brief glance at the content. It mentions the involvement of the FBI and that the coin collection was extensive, spanning Greek and Roman coins, primarily bronze and silver, dating from approximately 700 B.C. to 400 A.D. The text also refers to the Fogg's numismatic collection and details the coins' importance as teaching resources and their role in research at Harvard University.

The bottom of the page includes another section of text that references the Harvard College Library and the significance of the stolen items, indicating the collection's connection to educational and cultural heritage. The exact content and context of the article are not fully visible due to the limited resolution and the size of the text in the image.

OpenAI, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

The image shows a scrap of newspaper or printed material glued or taped onto a square piece of brown paper or cardboard with two punched holes on the left side, suggesting it might have been part of a binder or collection. The inserted text is titled "RARE COINS ARE STOLEN" and discusses a theft of the Fogg coin collection that occurred early on December 2. It mentions that the entire Fogg coin collection was stolen by armed robbers with the night watchman held up. A full-scale investigation is underway by Cambridge police and the FBI. Despite the ongoing investigation, the coins have not been recovered. The theft has been reported to coin dealers and numismatists worldwide.

The text emphasizes the importance of the lost collection, noting it mainly consists of Greek and Roman coins, primarily bronze and silver, some dating from 700 B.C. to 400 A.D., plus 800 American coins from the Harvard College Coin Collection, totaling nearly six thousand coins.

Additionally, it highlights the collection’s value for teaching and research, including insights into religion, economics, and politics of Greco-Roman civilization. David Gordon Mitten, Associate Curator of Ancient Art and Professor of Classical Art and Archaeology, is quoted stressing the irreplaceability of this collection.

Above the text are three images of coins (silver Sicilian coins) showing different designs, possibly to illustrate the type of rare coins stolen. At the top of the clipping, handwritten in red ink is: "Fogg Newsletter Feb. 1974 (Vol 1 No.1)."

The overall tone of the article conveys the significant loss to scholarship and the academic community caused by the theft of these valuable coins.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-11-20

This image depicts a brown sheet of paper with a newsletter clipping attached to it. Written with red ink at the top of the clipping are the words “Fog Newsletter Feb. 1974 (Vol.1 No.1)." The newsletter discusses the theft of rare coins from the Fogg Museum on the morning of December 2nd. The clipping includes pictures of coins and describes the incident in detail, highlighting the significance of the stolen collection, which included mostly Greek and Roman coins dated from 780 BC to 400 AD. The text emphasizes the academic value of the collection and its role in education and research at Harvard University. The page has holes punched on the left side, suggesting it may have been stored in a binder or folder.

OpenAI, gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07

The image shows a piece of light brown paper or board with a small collage glued near the center. A narrow newspaper clipping is arranged vertically on the board, with three small coin illustrations at the top and a block of text below. A red handwritten note sits above the clipping. The clipping headline reads “RARE COINS ARE STOLEN,” and the visible text discusses a theft of a coin collection. The page has two binder holes punched on the left side, and the clipping itself is cut irregularly, with part of it missing on the right. Overall, it looks like a vintage scrapbook or collage page.