thesaurus inventus
Roman law
Also known as: thesauri inventio
Quick Summary
In Roman law, thesaurus inventus refers to treasure trove—items like coins, gold, or silver found hidden in the earth for which no owner can be identified. Unlike modern common law in some places, where the finder might keep the treasure, Roman law, according to a constitution by Hadrian, likely divided thesaurus inventus equally between the finder and the landowner. The exact nature of thesaurus inventus and its similarity to Anglo-American treasure trove concepts are debated by some authorities.1
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