thedeadpoint Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Hi all, A few of the detectorists mentioned that finds can be possessed by governments or museums depending on their historical significance. In the US, some coins and notes are illegal to own: 1933 double eagles, $100,000 bills, some errors. Have you ever had to cede your finds or possessions to a higher authority (spouses and family members excluded)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Have you ever had to cede your finds or possessions to a higher authority (spouses and family members excluded)? Well that last part of the line just excluded my response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stilson Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 In our area it could be more then just seize the possessions. But then thats probably true anywhere. If you are caught metal detecting in parts of padre island anything you found plus your metal detector could be taken. Plus fine, ticket, etc. Don't even think about using a detector in the park at San Jacinto Monument. One of the warnings I have seen more then any other is make sure you have the right to detect there. If its government land check the laws, if private property get approval from the land owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted March 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Well that last part of the line just excluded my response. SM, I honestly wrote that to preempt your response Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtryka Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 I've never had anything seized, but my uncle ordered some silver bars from the Bank of Montreal in the 1960s and those came through ok, but then he tried to buy some gold from them and it was seized by the postal inspectors since it was before Nixon repealed FDR's executive order and it was still illegal for US citizens to own gold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just carl Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Not only items of monitary status but property as well. If for instance your property is in the way of a government program such as a Federal Highway, you could be given what they claim is a feir price and out you go. If you find some historic materials on your property, that too could be confiscated for historic preservation statuses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudhut1000 Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Not only items of monitary status but property as well. If for instance your property is in the way of a government program such as a Federal Highway, you could be given what they claim is a feir price and out you go. If you find some historic materials on your property, that too could be confiscated for historic preservation statuses. __________________________________________________________________________ True as too the "Antiquities Law". But whose gonna tell...........? Actually (I believe since I can't reference the law right now) it is against this Antiquities law to dig anything up, but if it's on the surface it's leagl to claim. However, as stated above, it can be stolen by the authorities. Me, I have never, neither found anything outside of my property lines nor anything of historical significance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stilson Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 The rock hounds are getting up in arms about this. Paleontological Preservation Act" referred to previously as part of the Omnibus Land Act or S. 22 Section 6307(d)(1) now says - "To protect, restore, or repair the paleontological resources and sites which were the subject of the action, and to protect, monitor, and study the resources and sites." This change prohibits land acquisition and eminent domain language. Section 6308( now says - "FORFEITURE.-All paleontological resources with respect to which a violation under section 6306 or 6307 occurred and which are in the possession of any person, shall be subject to civil forfeiture, or upon conviction, to criminal forfeiture." This change prohibits forfeiture of assets besides fossils. And also Section 6304(a)(2) was amended by striking the word "may" after the words "The Secretary" and replacing it with the word "shall". This directs the secretary to exempt "casual collectors" from the permit process. From what I understand it would allow invertebrate fossils to be collected but not vertebrate fossils. There is also a question as to existing collections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 I had a situation last fall where I got a counterfeit $100 at the bank and handed it back to the cashier, the colour was off a bit, a bit darker than usual. Upon looking at it against the light, where Ben Franklin should have been the watermark, there was Abe Lincoln. If I had walked out of the bank with the note I would have been out the $100, but because I handed it back to the cashier right away it was the banks loss. Apparently a couple of tellers had handled the note, the one that gave it to me had bought it with a bundle from another teller just that morning. So at least two people handled the counterfeit and had not caught it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drusus Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Not only items of monitary status but property as well. If for instance your property is in the way of a government program such as a Federal Highway, you could be given what they claim is a feir price and out you go. If you find some historic materials on your property, that too could be confiscated for historic preservation statuses. Not to mention the property seizures that go on all the time in the US pertaining to people ACCUSED of criminal activities. All they need do is accuse you and get a judge to agree and they can come arrest you and take all your possessions before you are ever even brought to trial and found guilty. Its a great scam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vfox Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 A friend of mind was arrested under charges of dealing drugs (it was true, but besides that) everything he owned was seized. His coin collection was taken away in two pick-up trucks, his collection was returned in a small cardboard box. Lesson is, don't deal drugs, and don't let the government seize your coin collection because greedy hands find uncatalogued items very appealing. Secondly, anyone take notice to the local PA seizure of the lands called Lauxmont farms? It was apparently a native american settlement hundreds of years ago and the land owners where behind on their federal taxes. The government seized the land under eminent domain laws and after a lengthy court battle decided to make a park out of the property. THEN, after costing the land owners thousands of dollars in legal fees decided to call off the park project and return the land without having paid "legal land values" for the property because of taxes owed. Basically the government tried to re-hand the former land owners several million dollars of debt. I actually think this is still a court battle currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtryka Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 They can't seize what they can't find, just remember to do your digging at night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajcaffey Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 I have an 1964-D Peace dollar, I wonder if its legal to own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 I have an 1964-D Peace dollar, I wonder if its legal to own It's legal to own, as long as you don't try to pass it off to someone else as genuine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmoneyeagles Posted May 14, 2009 Report Share Posted May 14, 2009 I remember back when that Gaudens sold for 7.59 million... They guy had to pay the treasury department $20!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmoneyeagles Posted May 14, 2009 Report Share Posted May 14, 2009 I hope the treasury department didn't spend all that money in one place and make a $20 bill with it... Maybe they made 2 $10's, or (4) $5's, or maybe... (20) $1's! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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