CHAMPLAIN, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Champlain Port of Entry Cargo Facility discovered seven Sasanian coins being shipped into the United States.
CBP officers assigned to the Cargo Facility encountered a shipment manifested as documents on June 2. However, nine unrecognizable foreign coins were discovered upon further inspection of the package. Subsequently, a specialist from the Numismatic Society was contacted in order to determine the origin and value of the coins. Upon close inspection the specialist determined two coins were minted in Armenia and the remaining seven in Iran. On June 23, CBP officers were notified that seven of the coins were from Iran, dated back to the fifth century, during the Sasanian Empire and have an appraised value of approximately $2000.
As a result, CBP officers contacted the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury who determined that the Iranian coins lacked the required licensing for importation.
“This is another example of how our officers continue to protect our country and its interests,” said Steve Bronson, Port of Champlain Port Director. “Our work with multiple agencies, in this case OFAC, prevents unlawful items of this nature from getting into the Unites States.”
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