[CPProt.net] Iraqi Museum Numismatics Collection

[Fksaraf at aol.com]

To whom it may concern,

In 1968, my late father, Abudullah Shukur Al-sarraf, donated his entire 
collection of rare Islamic coins to the Iraqi Museum.  At that time, the 
Iraqi government honored his donation by dedicating an exhibit hall at the 
museum for his collection.  There is a very real possibility that this 
priceless collection is now in the possession of fleeing members of the 
former Saddam regime.  It has been reported that the collection has 
disappeared from the museum a few years ago.
 
I have a list of all the coins in the collection.  The list was published in 
a special edition of the Journal of Numismatics In Iraq, 1968.  Following are 
two examples of the rare coins in the collection:

(1) An Islamic dirham of the Sassanid type minted at Nishapour in 78 AH and 
belonging to the Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusif al Thaqafi.

(2)  Khawarij coins believed to be struck at Kufa by Al-Dhahhak ibn Qais 
Al-Shaibani when he took over the city in 127 AH. 

 
I have been in contact with the curator of Islamic Art, Metropolitan Museum 
of Art in NY, Mr. Richard Doty, Curator, National Numismatics Collection, 
Simthsonian Institute, and the British Museum to publicize the disappearance 
of the collection.  Any further help you can provide in publicizing the 
disappearance of this invaluable collection so it may be returned to its 
rightful owners (the Iraqi museum and the people of Iraq) will be greatly 
appreciated.

Sicnerely,
Fawaz Saraf
Telephone:  703 519-9639
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