The prominent hand surgeon from Barrington who deals in ancient coins pleaded guilty on Tuesday, July 3, to three counts of attempted criminal possession of coins he believes had been looted recently from Italy, according to the blog, Chasing Aphrodite.

Dr. Arnold Peter Weiss, 51, of Nayatt Road, pleaded guilty to “attempted” possession – three misdemeanor counts -- because the three coins turned out to be modern forgeries, according to the blog. Sentencing is set for Sept. 17.

Weiss was arrested at an international coin convention in New York City on Jan. 3 and charged by the New York City District Attorney’s office. He has proposed to complete 70 hours of community service treating under-insured Rhode Island patients, a fine of $1,000 for each coin and forfeiture of 23 other coins taken from him by police when he was arrested.

Weiss also porposes to write a detailed article in the American Numismatic Society magazine about dealing in coins with unclear ownership histories, according to the blog.

If Weiss completes the stipulations outlined in his plea, he will receive a promised sentence of conditional discharge.

Weiss is a partner in University Orthopedics and a member of the Brown Medical School faculty. An attempt to reach him was unsuccessful.