New to treasure hunting. Is it legal to keep 1517 doubloons?

[Mingra]

Hi all,

I've read that the 1517 wreck rights off Vero Beach are owned. But what if I stumble across a gold coin while hunting? May I keep it without reporting or is this illegal, or worse grand theft since the coins are worth $4k each?

I believe I have rights to the beach being a Disney timeshare owner at Vero.

Thx!

 

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[Lady Pirate]

No one will ever know if "YOU" don't tell them. As I've said before, "Loose Lips Sink Ships" And the saying goes...."It's not what you believe", it's the law, if you tell enough people, who spreads the word and find yourself standing in front of a judge. Just say you found it somewhere else. You don't have to give precise accounts where found.

 

[lockdownking]

I couldn't agree more!

No one will ever know if "YOU" don't tell them. As I've said before, "Loose Lips Sink Ships" And the saying goes...."It's not what you believe", it's the law, if you tell enough people, who spreads the word and find yourself standing in front of a judge. Just say you found it somewhere else. You don't have to give precise accounts where found.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

reply

Hi all,

I've read that the 1517 wreck rights off Vero Beach are owned. But what if I stumble across a gold coin while hunting? May I keep it without reporting or is this illegal, or worse grand theft since the coins are worth $4k each?

I believe I have rights to the beach being a Disney timeshare owner at Vero.

Thx!

presuming, as you say, there is nothing inherently wrong with md'ing there, walking there, being there, etc.... Then what you find, when you look down while on your daily stroll, or detecting, is only yours to know about.

I've been at this for 35+ yrs. And in all that time, you know how many people have come up to me, riffled through my apron, studying the dates and types coins I found on any particular day? Zero. Never happened so far.

I suppose if you were REALLY worried that someone could come up and help themselves to see the contents of your apron, you could put certain coins in your shoe or back-packet. Then fine then, any busy-body who thinks a particular item you find might fall afoul of some rule, is more than welcome to entertain themselves looking at modern change and pulltabs you just found.

 

[jeff of pa]

If you have any worries at all, Just remember,
You found it in your Yard, or
it was handed down from a Relative who purchased it many years ago.

 

[luvsdux]

Never volunteer any information on situations like this. No one needs to know but you.
luvsdux

 

[doc-d]

Never, Never, Never say anything.............
It has been yours for years, ever since your grandparents gave it to you.......this is nobody elses business.......

 

[Mingra]

Thanks guys. Of course I know not to say anything but my question is more regarding the actual law and how it reads ( which I do not know). Basic guidelines such as treasure not extending beyond $10k may be kept without sharing percentage, etc. For example what if, big if, I was to be fortunate to find a gold artifact such as the bird found by Bonnie Schubert. Personally I'd prefer the $885k rather than keep it in a lock box. Would this be confiscated, or a finders fee/reward and in the case of coins if I sold one on eBay am I now a criminal? Just curious because I would think if your going to make TH'ers be in legal jeopardy for finding stuff then they are not going to "tell anyone" (ahem).

 

[Tom_in_CA]

reply

Thanks guys. Of course I know not to say anything but my question is more regarding the actual law and how it reads ( which I do not know). Basic guidelines such as treasure not extending beyond $10k may be kept without sharing percentage, etc. For example what if, big if, I was to be fortunate to find a gold artifact such as the bird found by Bonnie Schubert. Personally I'd prefer the $885k rather than keep it in a lock box. Would this be confiscated, or a finders fee/reward and in the case of coins if I sold one on eBay am I now a criminal? Just curious because I would think if your going to make TH'ers be in legal jeopardy for finding stuff then they are not going to "tell anyone" (ahem).

So are you wanting to know "actual practice - reality" , or "actual law" ? If you want to know actual law (which it seems as if you're asking), then no, you can't keep anything you find. Forget "1517" or any such particulars. You can't keep ANYTHING you find, anywhere. No matter what date or loss-origin. It ALL belongs to someone else. So don't even bother detecting, even for modern change, if this is your concern.

If I find a 1517 dabloon in my local park's sandbox here in CA, and were to go "ask enough questions of the right bureaucrat" they would tell me I can't keep it. And be sure to ask the IRS, etc...

There's your technical answer. Anything else you want to know?