I live in the US so if anyone happens to know how the law works with finding coins on public lands with metal detectors I would appreciate your input. Now I’m sure that 1 coin wouldn’t need to be reported but at what point does it become a reportable find? I’ve read stories about banks being robbed all the time in the old days and even the Carson City Mint so a hoard of coins seems at least possible to be found. I know in Britain there are certain requirements and definitions that define what a “treasure hoard” is and those finds are required to be reported. It has to be over 300 years old and meet other requirements. But now I’m curious about how it works in the US. Thanks!
Does for me too. This is how it works - https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/found-money-what-are-my-legal-obligations-31615
It brings up the Baltimore sun, but not a link to the story. It must be behind a pay wall or something. Can you give a brief summary of the story?
Let's see if this works. Treasure in the cellar brought more trouble than riches FREDERICK N RASMUSSENThe Baltimore Sun The story of two Baltimore teenagers and their random discovery of a cache of gold coins in a copper jug while digging in the dirt cellar floor of a three-story rowhouse at 132 S. Eden St. became a national story during the height of the Depression. edited - copyright
You face severe risks of loss if you report your finds. There is a line on your taxes for MISCELLANEOUS WAGES, TIPS AND CREDITS so you can report the income safely. If you feel that the property owner deserves a share they can easily WIN A CONTEST and will gladly accept a check for their PRIZE. You specifically asked about public lands. Most federal lands have outlawed metal detecting. Some state parks ban it Check the local regulations before you look as you should have no problem. Seeking your fifteen minutes of fame puts you at risk of thefts. I've been using detectors since the early 1960s.
A more contemporary story is the Saddle Ridge Hoard of gold coins found on a ranch in Northern California. It raised suspicions because of a heist of gold from the San Francisco mint late in the 19th century. If the Secret Service could have proved that the coins had been stolen from the mint the finders wouldn't have gotten a dime.
I've never checked to see if the paperback book by Leonard Augsberger is still available. Treasure in the Cellar: A Tale of Gold in Depression-Era Baltimore Paperback – Illustrated, September 1, 2008 (13) Details Print length: 208 pages Language: English Publisher: The Maryland Historical Society Publication date: September 1, 2008 Dimensions: 6.08 x 0.52 x 9.04 inches ISBN-10: 0938420976
I've learnt the hard way that sometimes reporting finds can have negative consequences. A hundred dollar bill in a K-Mart when I was a kid, a huge amount of money then. And a gold British sovereign on the ground in a parking lot when I was about 6-7.