N
Glam Journal

Can I keep treasure I find?

Author

Matthew Perez

Updated on March 04, 2026

Can I keep treasure I find?

If the found property is lost, abandoned, or treasure trove, the person who found it gets to keep it unless the original owner claims it (so actually, unless the original owner claims it, the rule is “finders keepers”).

What state has the most lost treasure?

Arizona. Widely regarded as the state with the most ‘lost’ or ‘buried’ treasure, Arizona lore is rife with tales of abandoned gold bars and bank robbers loot.

Where is the treasure in Virginia?

Virginia is a popular metal detecting state for those looking to find gold and treasure. Gold in Virginia is normally quite small, but a metal detector will be able to pick it up. Virginia is also said to be home to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of buried treasure.

Does lost treasure still exist?

Real buried treasure still does exist to this day, but before you go clambering for your compasses, shovels and suitcases, make sure you are indeed seeking real buried treasures and not falling into a false sense of reality. According to reports, there’s still a lot of buried treasure out there to be found.

Is treasure hunting illegal?

In the case of “John and Mary” (as they’re being called) and their California coins, the strongest factor in their favor is that they found the coins on their own property. In California, there is a law mandating that any found property valued over $100 be turned over to police.

What happens if you find gold in your backyard?

You do still own the property at least from the ground up. The mineral rights owner cannot simply come and remove you and dig up your property. They would have to make some kind of deal with you as the landowner. These types of deals have been known to be quite lucrative.

Has any buried treasure been found?

No treasure has been reported to be found yet. Buried treasure is not the same as a hoard, of which there have been thousands of examples found by archaeologists and metal detectors.

Is there any lost gold in Virginia?

The Captain John Mosbey Treasure is a buried treasure in Virginia worth 2 million dollars. Mosbey, a confederate guerilla, supposedly buried the cache between two large pine trees between Culpeper and Norman, near County rte 522, in Culpeper county. The treasure is said to be tons of gold and silver objects.

How much is the Beale treasure worth?

The Beale ciphers (or Beale Papers) are a set of three ciphertexts, one of which allegedly states the location of a buried treasure of gold, silver and jewels estimated to be worth over US$43 million as of January 2018.

How much gold is lost in the ocean?

$771 Trillion Worth Of Gold Lies Hidden In The Ocean: Good Luck Getting It.

Who is the richest treasure hunter?

Tommy G. Thompson was once one of the greatest treasure hunters of his time: A dark-bearded diver who hauled a trove of gold from the Atlantic Ocean in 1988 — dubbed the richest find in U.S. history.

What do you do if you find gold?

If your find can’t be considered a treasure, you are legally required to take it to the police. It will go into their custody and be handled like any other case of lost property. However, if you’ve got a bonafide treasure trove you’re probably in luck.

Is there a hidden treasure in Bedford County VA?

The treasure remains lost. Not until the publishing of the 1885 pamphlet entitled, ‘The Beale Papers containing authentic statements regarding treasure buried in 1819 and 1822, near Bufords, in Bedford County, Virginia, and which never has been recovered” was the public aware a hidden treasure might be buried in Bedford County.

What are some of the most interesting treasures found in Virginia?

Here are five areas in Virginia that have stories about treasures. The Shenandoah Caverns may hold large amounts of raw gold and items of worth stolen from raids on white settlements in and around that area. The caverns are located approximately five miles north of New Market, on rte 11, in Shenandoah County.

Is there a lost treasure in the West Virginia mountains?

There just might be some in the West Virginia mountains. West Virginia Explorer tells a story that’s been pieced together from old writings dating back to the Civil War era. Could there really be a lost treasure, or is it just a legend?

Where can I find Pirate Treasure in Virginia?

Mosbey, a confederate guerilla, supposedly buried the cache between two large pine trees between Culpeper and Norman, near County rte 522, in Culpeper county. The treasure is said to be tons of gold and silver objects. Hog Island Bay may hold pirate treasure. Cape Henry has produced many coins and relics.