Am I breaking my digging code of ethics?

[leslie(nova scotia)]

From the land of the Bluenose.....I am a firm believer that this is a hobby and not for a profit sort of thing. I have never sold anything that I have dug up before save for a tin of junk that I was going to throw out and a Bud from PEI said send it over and we'll go 50 50 ( made $400 USA on that which financed a trip to dig in Yarmouth for a few days) but a retired Mountie at work wishes to buy the ring that is in the photo.

What are your thoughts about this as I'm of a mixed train of thought on the issue that to me is not going to be a new trend nor norm but a possible one shot special thing?<center><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d830b3127cce85e7081136a800000026108AcM2bhk4ZN2 "></center>

[bugguy]

i think if some one would like to buy it from you and you really dont have a need for it or its not sentimental then SELL SELL SELL !!! this hobby can get quite costly so i would sell it to fund me addiction

[mastereagle22]

Well this is just my personal opinion. One of the main reasons I love this hobby is that I find LOST things. I display as much of what I find as I can but when it comes right down to it if no one sees it what is the real difference between being lost in the ground and lost in my home? These things are part of human history!

If you found something that does not hold a lot of sentimental value to you and someone else would gain satisfaction and joy from the ownership of that item why not sell it? This hobby costs $$$ to pursue and a little extra money goes a long way. I can tell you right now I plan on selling anything I find of value until I can afford to buy myself a better metal detector. Then I won't sell anymore of the stuff that has a value to me. There is no "ethical" more' as far as I am concerned on whether to sell your finds or not. If you found this ring and you knew who it belonged to wouldn't you return it? So what is the difference if the ring is going to sit in a box or display when someone really wants it?

Basically I would tell you that if you feel ok selling it and someone will get satisfaction out of owning it then why not sell?

[geodawn]

I can see selling a class ring for scrap that is cleary identified as someone elses being wrong, but I didn't know ethics existed about other items. You weren't searching out a buyer so I don't see anything at all wrong with selling that ring.

[booker]

If he wants to buy it. Sell it to him Dont see anything wrong with that

[z118]

Absolutely sell it if you don'tmind seeing it go. The buyer should be happy that he's getting what he wants, and you should be happy that your making a few beans in the process. Sounds win-win to me!

[grinsebring]

I see no reason not to sell the ring. If it makes the new owner happy, and you a little more wealthy go for it. Looks a little heavy for your ring necklace anyway. By the way I think I read about your necklace a few years back. I bet a lot of the forum members would like to have a gander at it. Why don't you post a picture sometime.....Gil

[hidin]

I would gladly sell to someone who would get pleasure out of the item. If they are going to treasure it I think thats much better than whatever it is just sitting on my display shelf.

Of course I'm a big baby about these things, I would probably just give the ring to him.

[marmotteer]

so the ring is from ?????????????????? and what is the ????????????????????
r u lot going through a tuff time right now

[Edaemus]

I say sell it if you arent attached the extra $$ never hurts

[metaladdict]

I would sell a ring if it had no name/initals. Also I sell most everything so I can feed my family.

[dogpound]

its yours so do with it what ya want, the only ring i wouldn't sell out of my collection would be the very first ring i found...all the rest...well if the price is right they would be out the door

[CoolAzDad]

IMHO, you are not breaking any points of the code of ethics (unless it is one that you imposed upon yourself). If it is something that you are willing to part with, go for it..... HH, Dave.........

[R.I.Terry]

sell it... i once sold a very nice find. i wont say what it was you would want to kill me. but i did and it bought me a brand new very expensive detector.

[carcur]

anybody notice this thread is 2 1/2 years old if he was going to sell it he has probably made a decision a long time ago
just a thought
curtis

[Dustyloins]

I'm a veteran on a fixed income, and I have
no problems selling (non nuggets) items I find....a military medal or ring would be a different story.......

Dusty

[Silversmith45]

As long as you can't identify the owner, it's yours to do as you wish. This past year I found a class ring, but it doesn't have any initals or name at all so I can't return it.

[bootybay]

Leslie, I cant see the pix.. but I see no problems buying long as the item cannot be returned.. besides, look what we send in to the refineries, school rings, college rings and such can easily be returned and some with names engraved..but those that are not...sell.. shoot, next time I see one of your purdy silver rings or bangles, ( I am addicted to bangles by the way) will politely ask if ya wanna sell it.. long as you dont mind.

[007tallguy]

Originally Posted by carcur

anybody notice this thread is 2 1/2 years old if he was going to sell it he has probably made a decision a long time ago
just a thought
curtis

haha, agreed!
but since i'm here.... if you have the chance to sell something that you've dug up, i don't see where that's any different than spending any actual change (clad?) that you dig up.
but i would make the attempt to return jewelry or medals or anything like that which can be traced back to the owner.

Pete

[cmbtvet]

I would be willing to bet that the person who resurrected this thread probably just got lost in the moment, reading thread after thread and not noticing he was 20 pages in.

That being said, if I found something cool/nice that I didn't give to my wife, mom, or daughter then I would probably sell it as well.