A Coin Stolen by a Brazilian Artist at the British Museum was Replaced with a Copy
The theft of a nearly 400-year-old coin by Brazilian conceptual artist Ilê Sartuzi has exposed critical security flaws at the British Museum.
Last month, London’s British Museum was the victim of a crime with an unexpected twist. Brazilian conceptual artist Ilê Sartuzi made international headlines for stealing a historic coin from the museum. He had attempted the theft on June 17, 2024, but was foiled by a museum volunteer. On Tuesday, June 18, he was successful. He entered Room 68 of the British Museum and secretly replaced the silver coin minted during the English Civil War with a replica. He then walked downstairs and deposited the actual coin in the museum’s donation box.
Sartuzi has downplayed his disrespectful heist as a bold statement against the institutionalization of art and a commentary on the ownership of cultural heritage. Still, the theft has sparked intense debate and controversy.
According to Hyperallergic, which initially broke the story on Friday, July 12, 2024, Sartuzi filmed the theft, creating a seven-minute video for his MFA thesis exhibition at Goldsmiths, University of London. He entitled it “Sleight of Hand.”
Sartuzi has long been a contentious figure in the art world, pushing the limits of conceptual art through acts that blur the lines between creativity and criminality. His work typically involves performance art, installations, and public interventions that question societal norms and the role of art in public spaces. Stealing the coin, his supporters argue, is a form of radical art meant to provoke thought and discussion about the issue of the possession of historical artifacts.
Critics condemn the theft as an act of vandalism and disrespect towards historical preservation. They argue that such artifacts belong in museums where they can be studied and appreciated by the public. A British Museum spokesperson characterized Sartuzi’s action as a “disappointing and derivative act that abuses a volunteer-led service aimed at giving visitors the opportunity to handle real items and engage with history. Services like this rely on a basic level of human decency and trust, and it would be a shame to have to review the provision of these services due to actions like this.”
The British Museum is home to one of the world's most extensive and respected collections of artifacts. The institution, which prides itself on preserving and exhibiting world history, sees Rocha's act as a violation of public trust and an insult to cultural preservation. Security footage from the museum highlights Sartuzi’s painstaking planning and execution, calling attention to not only his arrogance but also the lapses in the museum's security protocols. This incident has prompted the reevaluation of security measures at major cultural institutions worldwide.
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Kele Johnson is the Editor of Kovels Antique Trader magazine and the Digital Content Editor of Active Interest Media's Collectibles Group. Her captivation with collectibles began at a young age while dusting her mother’s McCoy pottery collection. She admits to a fondness for mid-century ceramics, uranium glass, and ancient coin hoards. Kele has a degree in archaeology and has been researching, writing, and editing in the collectibles field for many years. Reach her at kelejohnson@aimmedia.com.
