This bill makes technical updates to how the U.S. handles imports of coins, medals, paper money, and similar collectible items. Right now, there are rules about what ancient artifacts can be brought into the country to prevent looting of archaeological sites. This bill clarifies that numismatic materials—basically anything a coin collector would collect—are treated separately from archaeological artifacts.

The main change is that it creates a simpler process for people importing coins and similar items. Instead of having to prove where every single item came from, collectors and dealers can now provide a sworn statement saying the items were legally acquired, are known types that exist in multiple copies, and weren't illegally dug up. Customs officers can only ask for additional proof if they have solid documentary evidence that something fishy is going on. This makes it easier for legitimate collectors and dealers to import their items without getting bogged down in excessive paperwork, while still maintaining safeguards against trafficking in illegally excavated artifacts.

To amend the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act to make certain technical corrections to facilitate the lawful trade and collecting of numismatic materials.

Van Duyne, Beth

This bill revises the standard for providing satisfactory evidence to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding the importation of numismatic material (i.e., coins, tokens, paper money, medals, and related objects) into the United States.Current law generally prohibits the importation of designated archaeological or ethnological material that is exported from certain countries that are a party to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Importation is allowed if the country issues a certification or other documentation certifying the exportation was not in violation of the country's laws. The United States implements its obligations through the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act.Under current law,&nbsp;CBP must seize imports of designated archaeological or ethnological material&nbsp;unless the importer establishes by certain documentation or satisfactory evidence that the material is admissible into the United States.&nbsp;This bill specifies the standard for satisfactory evidence with respect to numismatic material. Specifically, the bill allows for the import of numismatic material with evidence that the numismatic material was acquired and exported lawfully, is of a known type, and is not known to be the direct product of illicit excavations within certain countries&nbsp;after the effective date for any import restrictions on such material.&nbsp;The bill prohibits CBP, when reviewing satisfactory evidence, from requiring other&nbsp;documentation unless there is probable cause to believe the presented evidence is false or fraudulent.