Treasure Trove Laws in Colorado

[johnnieb54]

Hey all,

I'm trying to find information on any Treasure Trove laws that exist in Colorado. So far I haven't found any resources discussing this matter. As I understand it, a treasure trove is basically a hoard of gold, silver or any other valuable item which was buried underground...in which the owner is presumed dead or not traceable. Apparently each state has their own law regarding the finding of treasure troves, but I cannot locate any resources via Google or at my library.

Can anyone shed some light for me or at least point me in the right direction?

As a side topic - what would you do if you happened to find a cache of buried gold? Who would you report it to (if anyone) and how would go about getting it sold?

Thanks!

 

[XT18000]

The best way to loose a treasure you find ( any kind, any where ) is to start blabbing about it to the world!
Keep your lips closed and don't tell anyone what or where you found. If you decide to sell what you found,
find a buyer but DO NOT tell them that you FOUND it, all you have to say is that it is yours. You do not
have to explain where when how! If anyone wants to make an issue of it , they have to do all the work not
you so don't help them. It's been in the family for years, etc. That apples to the Gov. also! Ditto any lawyers!
May not be law but that's the way I see it and I'm sticking to it !!!!!!!!!!!
HH

 

[Tom_in_CA]

What XT18000 says. I mean, c'mon, THINK OF IT: Even "lost & found" laws would also mandate you turn in any item (usually over a given value, of say .... $100) to the police dept. They hold it for 30 days, and if no one comes forward to claim it, you get to keep it (minus the public notice newspaper ad listing fee they're going to pass on to you). Yup, that's right: All those beach hunters who just keep rings (barring ones they can trace, like class rings, or insurance #'s, or something) are all breaking the law. Anytime you find a ring, much-less a treasure trove, you are supposed to turn it in, in ANY state. This law is designed, of course, so that if a Brinks armored car back door swings open, and bundles of cash fall out, the "finder" can't simply say "finders keepers". Know what I mean? And the law makes no exception for if you think the person who lost it might be dead, or not (afterall, a modern coin collector might loose an old coin on the beach, or park, etc...).

So if you're worried about "treasure trove" laws, you're probably in the wrong hobby. Because if you think long enough, and hard enough, you're really not going to keep anything you find (barring loose change?). There will always be a long line of people standing there to say "that belongs to me", if you asked enough questions, of enough people.

If I found jars of coins, I'd sell them, 1 by 1, on ebay. If I found a stack of gold bars, there's no shortage of gold and silver smelther/buyers out there, with no criteria for stating origin.

 

[johnnieb54]

Thanks guys. Honestly, what you said is along my line of thinking, but I guess part of me is worried about getting in trouble. You make really good points and advertising that I found something is the easiest way to get it taken away. Thanks!

 

[BH_Landstar_]

If it's been in the ground for 100 + years, you can't dig it up, under the law here (USA) it's classed as an Historical Artifact. This is also true for the old coins we find.

All I got to say is ..... "KISS MY BIG WHITE ASS, IT'S MINE, ALL MINE"

Now, on the other hand, if it's Prehistoric, what would you do with that, cos your not ment to dig that up either !

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Landstar, that would only apply to items found on federal land. Not state, county, city, etc.... land. And seriously now ........ if you're out in the woods, is anyone really standing over you reading the dates on your coins w/a calculator in their hand?? And seriously, your math never was that good anyhow, right?

Again, I bet if any of us waltzed into any public entity front desk (fed, state, county, or city), with a valuable item (seated dime, diamond ring, rolex watch, gold coin, etc...) and said "Hi, I found this [fill-in-the-blank] item on your land [ie.: freeway right-of-way, city parking strip, school yard, creek bank, etc....] and was wondering if I could keep it for my own mantle place?". I bet you would find people to tell you "no". And if you DID get a yes, be sure to hand them a search & salvage agreement, with a "hold-harmless" clause in there, for them to sign, then see if their yes, turns to a 'no'. Be sure to have a shovel in your hand, and the citations of the law that deal with lost & found, indian artifact lawsuits, arpa verbage, mel-fisher lawsuit hassle verbage, etc.... I bet you can, if you tried hard enough, and brought up enough mental images, can get any "yes" turned to a "no".

Metal detecting is a lot like nose-picking: As long as you're discreet, no one really cares less. But if you ask someone "can I pick my nose?" they're going to tell you "no".