Huh ? Well Charlie, just because no one (not even the police) care, and doesn't make it right ! It's your duty, under the code-of-ethics, to go ask those police people "can I?". That way they can look up your pressing question in their dry dusty boiler plate minutia. Once they are properly informed, then they will be able to tell you "no". And then you can come away with a feeling of gratitude for knowing you've "done the right thing". Ok, hurry, go ask. We'll be proud of ya!
Tom, you really can't be serious can you? Go ask? That's like asking the father of your Prom date for condoms!
But I say so, because people really do come on forums advocating that VERY THING. If any question of where you can and can't comes up, the solution is simple: Just go ask a bureaucrat at the location-in-question. I mean, who better to ask, than the entity themselves, right ? And "you can't be too safe", right ?
I said all that "tongue in cheek"
Tom, you really can't be serious can you? Go ask? That's like asking the father of your Prom date for condoms!
Charlie, I'm not so sure this statement is correct. There are different states within the larger country of Germany . The same way the USA has states within it. And if you were to talk to any German md'rs, they would tell you that certain states don't have that restriction. Only a few states within the country of Germany have the dire sounding anti-md'ing verbage.
However, I have no doubt, that are md'rs in every part of German, who ... (gasp) are finding old stuff. On a coin by coin basis, I'm sure it's no big deal.
Also: I bet you that even here in the USA, if you found a goodie of that caliber in any a) city property b) county property c) state property, or d) federal property: THAT THE SAME STUFF WOULD APPLY. What I mean is, don't think for a moment that the USA is any different.
To test theory, do this: Walk in to your city or county offices. Hold up a gold bar, or rare coin worth $1,000,000. Ask the city attorney: "Hi. I found this on city property with my metal detector. It's worth $1,000,000 and has great value of antiquity as well. Is it ok if I sell it on ebay for my own enrichment? Or does it belong to the city coffers, and to go into the city museum?" Which of the following 2 answers do you think they'd give you:
1) "you lucky bum! Sure, it's yours to keep. The city doesn't need the money anyhow. And we have no laws forbidding "removing", "collecting", "harvesting", etc.... So it's yours to keep!"
or
2) "No I'm sorry, but items on city property belong to the city. You'll have to give up that item to us."
If you think they'd give you answer #1, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn I wanna sell you
