If you lived in Germany/France or other European Country, and found a fabulous Roman Aureus from lets say a Usurper like Laelianus in FDC. You research the coin and its value circa $500,000US. a: would you sell it at auction b: keep it for your collection c: give it to a museum. My answer would be instant=MY COLLECTION.
Well, I live in the UK and I hope that I would do the proper thing and report it to the portable antiquities scheme. Of course you risk losing a very rare item to a museum, but the archaeological evidence gained by it's discovery is priceless.
I would probably keep it for a few weeks, so I could caress it lovingly, since I know I would never get a chance to hold such a valuable coin in my hands again. Then I would give it to a museum. A coin worth $500,000US should be shared.
Assuming I could legally keep it, I would probably enjoy it for a while then send it to auction and buy myself some bling.
I take it that everyone has seen the article about the woman in Israel who found and reported the Augustus commemorative coin by AP. I mean, they didn't even offer her a gift card to like Chili's or anything. At least cut her in on the find so people have an incentive to be honest and keep important items in the open. Otherwise, I am selling that thing on the black market.
i would touch it (maybe inappropriately), then sell it to a good home. i first i thought send it to a museum, but what are they going to do with it? i'd want to know. if they are going to bury it in their archives or something where it wouldn't been seen again until some guy finds it in 2089....no way. maybe the ANA or something like that? i think i would be to scared to hold on to a coin that was worth more than the house i'm keeping it in. reminds my of a little art museum about an hour and a half from my house that found a picaso in there store room, they couldn't keep ..to much risk/cost to keep.. but they made a pretty penny. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/13/a...o-is-windfall-for-evansville-museum.html?_r=0
I would stare at it a while and then let it go. Hopefully to a place where many others could view it.
I hate to disagree, but I would add it to my collection, and take very good care of it. I still would post the photos to all of you guys/gals.... About museums....when I was still in collecting butterflies/moths. I had one of the best collection in papilionidae (Swallowtails) about 12,000 specimens, all perfect quality, expertly set in museum drawers, knew more then most dealers. I happened to visit entomology dept. Paris museum, to see their insect collection. They asked if I had a degree in entomology, I said NOPE. So, since I was an "amateur" I was not allowed to see the material...little respect for museums after that experience. Plus when you specimens pictured in books from famous museum collections....they usually badly mounted, badly stored. Private collections are much cared for.
Hate to admit it...but I'm with you. Also, museums are fine but I don't think in general they're good for our hobby. Er...I mean I would absolutely surrender it to the proper authorities!
I would follow the laws of the country in which I found the coin. If I got to keep the coin and do with it as I wish, at this point in my life, it would go straight to auction. I can do a lot with 500k. Later in life my answer might change.
