Yet Another Hoard...

How can you be losing 100% of the time by reporting? If it isn't "treasure" you get to keep it. If it is "treasure" but no museum wants it you get to keep it. If it is treasure, the museums want it but can't raise the money to buy it you get to keep it. If it is treasure, a museum wants it, and they CAN raise the money for it you get paid the fair market value for it. How is this a 100% of the time loss? The only time I see it as being a loss to the finder is in the last case if he actually wanted to keep one or more of the coins for himself. The only 100% of the time loss is if you DON'T report and are found out.

Many other countries do have a 100% of the time loss policy "Anything you find belongs to us." That encourages non reporting of archeological sites, looting of sites, smuggling of artifacts, and destruction of artifacts of precious metals because they are anonymous after they are melted down. No the British treasure trove laws are a much better system. newly discovered sites are reported and can be properly excavated without looting because there is no incentive to loot because you are going to be compensated anyway.