The ethics of beach hunting

[Gary in Daytona]

n/t

 

[John(Tx)]

After having someone like that joking and laughing, no way I've would of given it back. Good hunting guys. John

 

[Trocar]

I remember reading somewhere, that a good or high quality diamond, of a decent size would have a very minuet [size=large]Serial Number[/size] engraved on the diamond along the rim. I have seen it on my wife's diamond, but that was bought within the last 10 years. I'm not sure when they started this practice or even if all companies do this. The serial number is able to be traced to the purchaser on the diamond. IF YOU WANT TO?

 

[Crispy Critter]

if these people want their items back so bad why don't they go buy a metal detector like we do and search for it? You put down $1000 for a machine and they get the reward? Class rings I can understand, everything else, finders keepers unless the person asks you for help, if I'm wrong so be it. John

I agree with you John. I didn't spend $1200.00 on a water machine so that I could be the community, lost jewelry finder/returner.

 

[John(Tx)]

that would be one heck of a title to hold. lol Lots of money involved in a water machine plus gas, etc. HH John

 

[Mentez]

Well, some very interesting points. Now here comes the crunch.......

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/metal-detecting


Regardless of giving the things back, if I find anything valuable (And over here I'm thinking of older stuff, Saxon gold, Roman, medieval gold coins/jewelry) on nearly all of our beaches, I have to inform the archaeologists by law (I already knew that part, and have no problem at all with it) and give the Queen 50% of the value!! Turns out that the Queen owns all valuables along almost all of the UK beaches.

Argument settled...............

 

[deanosaur1972]

Regardless of giving the things back, if I find anything valuable (And over here I'm thinking of older stuff, Saxon gold, Roman, medieval gold coins/jewelry) on nearly all of our beaches, I have to inform the archaeologists by law (I already knew that part, and have no problem at all with it) and give the Queen 50% of the value!! Turns out that the Queen owns all valuables along almost all of the UK beaches.

Wherever you find anything old in England its going to be a 50% split with the landowner/beach owner - unless its on your own land. And Crown Foreshore only cover a limited part of each beach - the tidal area where anything is likely to wash up. Above high tide water line and the beach is usually council owned. It's the same as having permission to detect on someone's farm - the landowner is entitled to a 50% slice if you find anything valuable and old. I think that's only fair, mind you I can see where you are coming from with regard to the Royal Family as we already pay enough to them as it is - and I have this picture of Fergie that keeps coming up (not pleasant)!!!!

My personal take on that is any significant find over 300 years old - belongs in a museum (if it is that interesting and valuable) - and just to find it would be great. Having it valued by assessors and then getting 50% of the value would be a bonus. The publicity wouldn't be a bad thing either - sometimes its difficult to get permission to detect privately owned land, but if you make a significant find then it makes it easy......... farmers will probably be contacting you!!

But I am quite happy to take the modern coin & ring drops in the summer - its only in the winter that my research stuff gets dusted off and I hit likely area's that produce older stuff.

 

[Critterhunter]

By the time you guys get done pointing down at a ring on the beach and debating what should be done with it...I will have picked it up, cashed it in, and be sitting at home drinking a case of beer and watching MASH re-runs on my new TV that I just bought with my ring money. Seriously, I guess if it's got a name in it or is a class ring with year and initials or something then I should do what I can to find the owner. Luckily I haven't had to do that yet. Pretty much all class rings I've found are junk metal and in such bad shape that the prior owner would probably punch me in the mouth if I showed up at his door with some ratty old ring to give him. On the other hand, I did recover a gold class ring last year. Very old and with no way to trace the owner. Lucky for me. I was able to buy some high class beer with a name that I can't even pronounce with that money.

 

[Mentez]

hahaha critter. I have images of Corporal Klinger marching up and down the beach with a garrett treasure ace shouting "I've lost my lipstick container Major" at the top of his voice.

You are right. It just staggered me that anything below the high tide mark is the royal family's.

And Deanosaur, you are right too, I share the same sentiments about the historical significance of our hobby. I am a member of a local club and the area archaeologist comes to our monthly meetings to record/help identify/have a chat. I guess over here in the UK we are lucky that most of our finds are pretty old...I would say that 90% of my "Keepers" are older than 1800, my earliest is a 100BC celtic unit.

It's just that buying this sovereign has opened up the possibility of beach detecting for the first time to me...and it has obviously got me thinking.

Anyhoo, thanks for the tips, and the sentiments of returning more "modern" relics than I'm used to. I'm fairly settled as to where I stand now..............................the beer order is already made Critter.