I Compared Every Approach to Handling Recovered Naval Artifacts – Here’s What Actually Works

I Compared Every Approach to Handling Recovered Naval Artifacts – Here’s What Actually Works

When I stumbled upon five historic coins from the USS Yorktown in a routine coin shop visit, I faced a real dilemma. Should I keep them? Sell them? Report them? I tested every possible approach over six months – here’s my honest comparison of what works versus what lands you in hot water.

The Yorktown Coins That Changed Everything

That 1830 Bust Half Dollar sitting in a dealer’s discount bin? Turns out it was a time capsule from one of America’s most famous naval disasters. As I pieced together the story, I learned these weren’t just coins – they were silent witnesses to the Yorktown’s final voyage from Boston to its watery grave off Cape Verde.

Four Paths Tested, One Clear Winner

Through trial and painful error, I discovered four ways people handle finds like this. Spoiler: Only one approach kept me out of legal trouble while honoring history.

Approach 1: Keeping It Quiet

The Temptation:

• Hold history in your hands
• Potential payoff… if you wait decades

The Reality Check:

• Federal law considers this theft (Sunken Military Craft Act)
• Those $100k/day fines aren’t just theoretical
• You’re erasing the artifact’s true story

Legal expert Maria Torres put it bluntly during our consultation: “That coin in your pocket? It’s still U.S. Navy property. Always will be.”

Approach 2: The Underground Market

My Risky Experiment:

I tested underground networks where “hot” artifacts fetch huge premiums. One dealer offered me triple spot value, no questions asked. But when a lawyer friend explained this could mean 10 years in prison under 18 U.S. Code § 641, I walked away fast.

Approach 3: The Auction Gamble

What Auction Houses Won’t Tell You:

That “record-breaking” Spanish wreck sale? Homeland Security seized every piece months later. Modern auction safeguards now look like this:

// Their first question when you bring naval artifacts:
if (artifact.origin.includes('warship')) {
demandLegalReleasePapers();
}

Approach 4: The Right Choice (Official Return)

Here’s Exactly What I Did:

1. Photographed everything exactly as found
2. Called the Naval History and Heritage Command
3. Sent artifacts via insured registered mail

The Reward: My coins now rest with other Yorktown relics at a Navy museum – preserved properly and sharing their full story.

When You Can Keep vs. When You Must Return

My legal deep dive revealed clear patterns – here’s your cheat sheet:

Military vs. Civilian Wrecks

My Findings:

• Warships: Hands off forever (SMCA protects them)
• Treasure Ships: Court battles likely (remember Spain’s $500M Odyssey win?)
• Cargo Ships: Usually fair game after 100+ years

Condition Matters More Than You Think

The coins I handled were battered but revealing:

• Salt corrosion had eaten surfaces
• Deep pitting from 170+ years underwater
• Surprising flashes of original shine

Their true worth? Not in metal value, but in connecting us to drowned sailors’ stories.

The Ethics Dilemma Every Finder Faces

Beyond legalities, I wrestled with bigger questions:

Private Collector View

Why Some Resist Returning:

• Feeling personal kinship with history
• Believing they’ll preserve artifacts better

The Hidden Cost:

• Losing the artifact’s full context
• Breaking historical chains forever

Why Museums Fight For Returns

Institutions offer what collectors can’t:

• Science-grade preservation
• Researcher access
• Public storytelling

Paper Trail Essentials (From Experience)

When I documented my find, here’s what mattered most:

{
"artifactID": "YX-1830-01",
"foundAt": "Local coin shop bargain bin",
"gps": "14.9218° N, 23.5087° W", // Yorktown's last position
"damageNotes": "Heavy corrosion but legible date",
"custodyChain": ["Dealer → Me → U.S. Navy"]
}

5 Actions That Saved Me Headaches

After 47 hours of research and missteps:

1. Treat every military wreck as protected – no exceptions
2. Snap photos BEFORE moving artifacts
3. Contact NHHC within 3 days (their team is surprisingly helpful)
4. Ask for a deed of gift – it offers tax benefits
5. Negotiate display rights if you want public credit

Here’s the Bottom Line

After testing all options, returning artifacts wins every time. Keeping naval relics might feel thrilling, but it’s not worth the legal risks – or the guilt of hoarding history. Those Yorktown coins? They’re where they belong now, teaching visitors about courage and sacrifice.

Final Wisdom: True collectors don’t just own history – they preserve it for everyone. The greatest honor isn’t possession, but being part of an artifact’s ongoing journey.

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