Question about turning in finds to the government.

[Coincrazed]

So I was reading old banner finds, and saw a coin spill in England and the finder said he was going to turn the coins in instead of keeping them. I wanted to ask how and why do folks in certain different countries turn in the Coins they find? Then what's the point of detecting? Like are the feds going to search your house if you keep them?

It's not a violation of integrity, the government already has plenty of resources and could care less for an individual or their way of life. The way I see it if it was found on yours or someone else's property it belongs to you, how on God's green earth does it belong to the government? Because they say so?

I feel so blessed that I live in America and not under quite such a tyrannical government, where we're freer than most......

 

[Megalodon]

I believe the coins are documented and the data become useful to researchers. Small collections are usually returned to the finder, but if they are historically significant, the finder is paid for the coins. I've not seen any complaints from finders about these payments, so they are either fair or finders are just resigned to the process.

Hopefully, this thread will see some detailed responses by those who have gone through this process.

 

[Red James Cash]

Please trust me,I will do the above right away,honest I will.

 

[Oddjob]

I feel so blessed that I live in America and not under quite such a tyrannical government, where we're freer than most......

Ditto

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... , and saw a coin spill in England and the finder said he was going to turn the coins in instead of keeping them.....

Because in some countries (like England, Mexico, etc...) the resources under the ground "belong to the queen". So ... if you discover oil on your own land, then : Unlike the Beverly Hillbilly story, you are not rich. Gold, silver, oil, etc... beneath the ground belongs to the crown, not you.

And not only mineral and natural resource wealth, but also , as you read about in England: Historical wealth. It would only apply to big ticket items (caches, extremely historical/valuable item, etc...). Not individual solo coins.

Well, let me re-phrase that : YES it would apply to individual solo coins of any value. But no ... the crown does not bother keeping those. Yet ... technically ... could keep each one (if they wanted, and d/t if it were historical/valuable).

I knew a guy who found a gold coin dated to before AD 1000, in Britain. He didn't "declare" it, or turn it in, etc.... Simply brought it back to the USA in his luggage. No biggie.

 

[Duckshot]

No biggie.

Until finder writes about it on the Internet, keeper finds out, and keeper arrests finder and his metal detector the next time finder appears in port. Hypothetically speaking.

 

[Rookster]

I hope no one in the US Treasury is reading this. Heck, let's not give um any ideas.

 

[Coincrazed]

I hope no one in the US Treasury is reading this. Heck, let's not give um any ideas.

We have the second amendment for a reason too.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Umm, what treasure?

 

[Icewing]

In some European countries finds that are believed to be older than a certain date are to be turned in primarily for educational purposes so they can be studied and recorded, it has very little to do with value.

Personally I will happily hand over just about anything I find to a museum or educational institution so long as I feel confident that that's what it will be used for. All I ask in return is credit for the find.

 

[Duckshot]

In some European countries finds that are believed to be older than a certain date are to be turned in primarily for educational purposes so they can be studied and recorded, it has very little to do with value.

Personally I will happily hand over just about anything I find to a museum or educational institution so long as I feel confident that that's what it will be used for. All I ask in return is credit for the find.

Hey- remember when they found that dude frozen in ice, said he was some 5,000 years old, and somebody stole his wang?

What's up with that?

 

[GB1]

turn it what

 

[Holyground]

Hey- remember when they found that dude frozen in ice, said he was some 5,000 years old, and somebody stole his wang?

What's up with that?

You know what Jackie O got for her wedding gift from Onassis? An antique Greek Organ.

 

[Philvis]

And when the amount the finder is paid is above £10,100, there is an 18% tax.

 

[coinman123]

I live in an area with tons of town owned land, and do a large amount of my metal detecting there, just curious who would "legally" own the stuff found there?

 

[Coincrazed]

Hey- remember when they found that dude frozen in ice, said he was some 5,000 years old, and somebody stole his wang?

What's up with that?

Well this thread sure got a lot more interesting.

 

[Icewing]

I live in an area with tons of town owned land, and do a large amount of my metal detecting there, just curious who would "legally" own the stuff found there?

The way I see it if you find something on public land that cannot be inventoried as public property it becomes the property of the finder. For example you can't claim you found a picnic table in a park because it was fixture of the park and a part of cities inventory of public property, but the city (or other governing body) can't prove ownership of something like a ring or coin that was lost by an individual.

 

[Duckshot]

Well this thread sure got a lot more interesting.

Never mind. It turns out the reports of the missing member were unfounded.

OTZI, THE ICEMAN | Facts and Details

I imagine that if I found a dude frozen in the ice, I would probably turn it in to the authorities. But I'd have to get their wallet off their body first. You know, so I could check their ID and tell the cops who I found.

 

[Holyground]

Nobody stole his organ. It was just cold shocked back into its hiding place. Once they got him thawed out, It popped right back into place.

 

[Duckshot]

Ghastly.