A man bought a metal detector to get off the couch. He just made the "gold find of the century" in Norway.
A man bought a metal detector to get off the couch. He just made the "gold find of the century" in Norway.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gold-find-of-the-century-norway-metal-detector-erlend-bore/
The gold pendants — flat, thin, single-sided gold medals called bracteates — date from around A.D. 500, experts say.
At first, the Norwegian man thought his metal detector reacted to chocolate money buried in the soil. It turned out to be nine pendants, three rings and 10 gold pearls in what was described as the country's gold find of the century.
The rare find was made this summer by 51-year-old Erlend Bore on the southern island of Rennesoey, near the city of Stavanger. Bore had bought his first metal detector earlier this year to have a hobby after his doctor ordered him to get out instead of sitting on the couch.
"At first I thought it was chocolate coins or Captain Sabertooth coins," said Bore, referring to a fictional Norwegian pirate. "It was totally unreal."
Under Norwegian law, objects from before 1537 and coins older than 1650 are considered state property, and must be handed in.
I hope they paid him for the value of the gold at least. Otherwise people may melt down these kinds of finds for the money.
Also, I must learn more about Captain Sabretooth.
From what I understand they do have a system to reward to discoverer and the landowner, though whether it would match the material value I can't say
Also, I must learn more about Captain Sabretooth
Wikipedia has a pretty decent overview. Here you go.
Exactly why the state should be paying market price for the gold if they’re going to have a law like this. These ol kinds of finds should be on display, not melted down and hawked at a pawn shop.
It's a piece of history that survived this long and deserves to be appreciated by everyone. Priceless. Definitely worth more than a gold -shit alloy that you'd try to sell at a loss.
Under no circumstances would I go public with such a discovery let alone inform any government of my findings. Why the fuck would anyone obey such a law?
Is just want the gold value for it. It goes in a museum with your name on it as the discoverer forever. That’s pretty cool.