Ptoentially difficult question regarding Nazi coins and stamps:

[James_OldeTowne]

This question may seem better suited to the darkside community, but I have good reason to ask here.

 

Recently, I accepted a really awesome (to me) eBay consignment of German coins and postage stamps. Probably half are from the Nazi Germany era of 1936 - 1945. My question is: When I list these on eBay, should my listing contain any sort of "apology" or "politically correct" phrases, in case someone who might be offended encounters them? Now, I pose the question here on the lightside because the fact is many US-only collectors do view all my auctions, including those for foreign coins. Please give my question serious consideration. I want to be very careful when I post the listings for these items.

 

This same collector also has similar memorabily from fascist Italy, and the same issues would apply.

 

What' are your thoughts? Thank you in advance.

 

James

[cladking]

I can hardly answer for anyone else but it would actually be less offensive to me without an apology of any sort. Certainly you want to avoid glorifying or praising the issuing authority in any way.

[Wihlborg]

James,

 

I would not offer an apology of any sort in the listings. Historically, the coins are what they are. I happen to own a number of German coins from the nazi era, although I don’t approve of the policies of Germany at that time. As cladking said, just avoid glorifying or praising the issuing authority.

 

John

[truthteller]

I agree with Cladking. An apology for listing coins? Then you would have to apologize to all native Americans for listing US coins, to all Armenians for listing Turkish coins, to all Pakistanis for listing Indian coins, to all Koreans for listing Japanese coins, etc. Coins represent history, in it's most pure form, no judgement, no Political Correctness, just history. The one's who find it offensive aren't going to buy your coins anyway.

 

 

TRUTH

[jtryka]

I own a few of these coins, for historical reasons, and I wouldn't be offended by listing them, noting the history without glorifying the Nazis. The same holds true for Italian pieces, or former Soviet pieces. I respect those coins for their places in history, though I abhor what Hitler, Mousollini (did I spell that right?) and Stalin did.

[braddick]

Does eBay now allow the sale of items with the word, "Nazi" in the title?

[gmarguli]

Does eBay now allow the sale of items with the word, "Nazi" in the title?

 

1892 items found for nazi (Search title)

 

7279 items found for nazi (Search title and description)

[braddick]

Ok. I thought eBay had a policy against selling this stuff, but maybe that only applies to buyers in Germany?

[jtryka]

I believe eBay makes an exception for items of legitimate historical value, like coins and stamps. I believe they prohibit some Nazi items that are only collected as Nazi items, i.e. they are not a part of a larger hobby. So coins, currency and stamps are allowed, but things like helmets, or uniforms, flags and the like are more heavily regulated by eBay (these vary by country as well).

 

I just looked it up, and here is eBay's policy:

 

Examples of items that will generally be removed:

 

Items that bear symbols of the Nazis, the SS, or the KKK, including authentic German WWII memorabilia that bear such marks

 

Examples of items that may generally be listed:

 

German coins and postage stamps (canceled or otherwise) from the WWII era regardless of markings

WWII memorabilia that does not bear the Nazi or SS markings

Books and movies about WWII or Nazi Germany, even if the Nazi symbol appears on the item

 

That's not all too helpful, but it's all they had specific to Nazi items. There are other rules for offensive items as well.

[TomB]

I'm likely wrong, however, I thought that France had passed legislation prohibiting the selling of Nazi items, to addresses within France, over the internet.

[Count_Erfit]

[jhollan2]

As a new coin collector, and a Jew who had family survive the holocaust, I TOTALLY would not expect an appology with a posting. I actually own a few of the coins because I believe the history with the coins is so important. Quite a few people deny the holocaust happened, and I see them as a tangible part of history...something that needs to be preserved and remembered. History is history, we need to acknowledge it and remember it. Please let me know when you post them, I may be interested!

 

-Jill

[James_OldeTowne]

Jill, I value your input. In particular, where you said "Quite a few people deny the holocaust happened, and I see them as a tangible part of history". Thank you.

 

My best friend at work is Jewish (Ukrainian), and he said he'd be pretty much indifferent to the situation. Any other input?

 

Another question. This is a pretty large collection, well over 1000 coins and stamps, so of course, I'm going to sell them in lots. Do you think there'd be any interest in creating and selling a printed catalog, sort of a "pre-sale" catalog?

 

Thanks again!

 

James

[jhollan2]

I'm not sure who you would distribute such a catalog to. You could consider contacting a major organization, such as the Eli Weisenthal center of the Holocaust museam in DC and see if they are interested in purchasing the whole thing for display. I wouldnt market them too much because then you run the risk of running into the "wrong crowd" who wants them for a very different reason.

 

You also might consider looking into any local synogogues in your area, they may be interested in having a couple.

 

As for the people who deny the holocaust happened, they are usually extremists. One such individual who comes to mind recently is Mel Gibson's father. A major part of my childhood was listening to stories of survivors, and seeing the numbers on their arms. Soon, there wont be any people left with "numbers" to see. Its too far away to visit the camps. I like to have something tangible that I can have and show to my future children so they can understand what happened. Coins tell a story that books cant. Its really the only way I know where you can "touch" history.

 

I will admit, though, that I tend to fall into a different group than most Jews. I was most influenced by (this is sad) my fourth grade teacher. She was an avid coin collector and would bring in different coins each week. Our job was to come up with a story surrounding the coin. Sometimes it was the person who owned the coin, the journey the coin took, or something that was purchased. It was a great way to learn history.

 

I would hope that these coins can serve the same purpose.

[lclugza]

Don't anyone believe those people who say the Holocaust never happened. My father saw some of those people in camps during WWII, and they were just as the Holocaust stories make them out to be, in terrible shape.

[James_OldeTowne]

I should have mentioned that the catalog would be distributed on CD. It might be useful for folks who have slow internet connections and don't want to thumb through each coin on an even slower link to the eBay auction. Bear in mind that I expect somewhere close to a thousand indivdual images, and I'm thumb-nailing every one. It's a laborious process, but I promised the consignor that I'd go to extra effort to see that the listing is done properly.

 

Jill, thanks for the absolutely fascinating insight regarding "numbers on the arms". I've read about that before; absolutely fascinating insight!

 

James

[EZ_E]

Nearly ten years ago, I saw a very graphic and horrid documentary on the holocaust produced by the Discovery channel. I challenge anyone to watch that program and still deny that the holocaust ever happened. The images are still fresh in my memory after so many years. Can you imagine those who lived through it? We pampered Americans occasionally whine about a stressful day at the job. How dare we!

God bless the Jewish nation and God bless the survivors of the holocaust!

[EZ_E]

It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three leading candidates.

 

Candidate A -

 

Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologists. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

 

Candidate B -

 

He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

 

Candidate C -

 

He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and never cheated on his wife.

 

Which of these candidates would be your choice? Decide first, no peeking, then scroll down for the answer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.

 

Candidate B is Winston Churchill.

 

Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.

 

[Leothelion]

Jill, I value your input. In particular, where you said "Quite a few people deny the holocaust happened, and I see them as a tangible part of history". Thank you.

 

My best friend at work is Jewish (Ukrainian), and he said he'd be pretty much indifferent to the situation. Any other input?

 

Another question. This is a pretty large collection, well over 1000 coins and stamps, so of course, I'm going to sell them in lots. Do you think there'd be any interest in creating and selling a printed catalog, sort of a "pre-sale" catalog?

 

Thanks again!

 

James

 

If I'm not mistaken, there is a dealer in my area who collects and deals in this stuff. He'll usually have a couple of tables full at the major coin shows.

 

Leo

[James_OldeTowne]

King, I'm in St. Louis, and it looks like you're in Illinois. Can you mention the dealer?

 

James

[jhollan2]

I'd like to know if hes in the Atlanta area any time soon, or if you will let me know when you start to sell your off. I can always add to my collection. I had heard that there were auschwitz tokens, used to allow the prisoners of "favor" to get new uniforms and food. They were supposed to be some form of nickel with a jewish star on one side with a swastika in the middle of the start and a fact on the other side. The coin should say "work will make you free" in german on the reverse. Do you have any of those?

 

-Jill

[Leothelion]

Ah, but you didn't paint two sides for each candidate, so I didn't choose. Voting for or buying a coin for that matter, there's always something that could be considered less desireable than another in any decision. But what do I know!

 

Leo

[davefperry]

In case you didn't know "work will make you free" will read as "Arbeit Macht Frei" in German.

[James_OldeTowne]

Please see my recent post in "The Coin Marketplace" forum for an update.

 

Comments/criticisms welcome.

 

Thanks!

 

James

[Beijim]

In case you didn't know "work will make you free" will read as "Arbeit Macht Frei" in German.

 

Precisely. And this appears in wrought iron in the entrance gate at Dachau, just outside Munich. Once you've seen it, you'll never forget it.

 

Beijim

[James_OldeTowne]

Just one more bump - strictly in response to requests of when the coins would be sold. I have included my final update on the "The Coin Marketplace".

 

James

[XpipedreamR]

I haven't seen your update in the other forum yet, but I say sell the coins as is, without disclaimers.

 

These items are of valid historical interest. A tangible piece of history like this can make these past events even more real, especially to one whose knowledge of history is limited to books and film. I think that is not unreasonable for you to assume that the potential buyer is looking at them in this way, and is not planning to use them for some corrupt purpose. So I don't think you have anything to be ashamed of in selling these items, much less apologize for.

 

I also think it is likely that some who come across your auctions might be offended by these coins, but I don't believe that you're accountable for their feelings. The situation would be different if you were selling...I don't know...bricks from Auschwitz or something like that, something with strictly morbid shock value. I don't think that money/coins has that same kind of evil history, or should carry that same stigma.

 

If you personally feel conflicted, though, I think you should not deal in the items.