I suspect it will be moot. I highly doubt the original piece once restored will be placed again atop the gate. They already have a replica which was used in the past during various deferred maint. and capital improvement projects.

I firmly am a believer in preservation. To a certain degree, we use our historical artifacts to speak to our culture, our past, and naturally, our future. As collectors of any atiquity, preservation and it's fundamentals are cornerstone to successful interpretation and ensuring those artifacts are available for future generations to learn from. Most cultures value the preservation of their past and those tangible items which interpret that past...whether it's an item associated with sadness, or a fetish used in religous rites.

My 2 pesos.

Tom

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German Sabers