They need a lawyer and I hope they have one.
They don't owe any taxes if the Treasury is going to claim ownership. In fact, they want to pay taxes, because this would establish their undisputed ownership of the coins.
Money spent on lawyers to establish their "undisputed ownership" is tax-deductible. Essentially uncle is going to pay about 50% of their legal fees to establish that the coins belong to them and not uncle...
That’s what happens when you open your yap, before gathering information.
Those who denounce the IRS, Obama or Nixon as if this was some sort of recent initiative are demonstrating their ignorance of history and the law.
Under English Common Law, going back to before the Norman Conquest, treasure trove belonged to the monarch.
All of it.
There were remarkably stiff penalties for hiding or attempting to hide it from him.
Since the state government is the sovereign, under common law principles the entire treasure trove would belong to the state.
However, most states have decided that the finder of treasure owns it, although a few have gone with the owner of the land, the state, the county or the township. Or it may split it up among some of these entities.
Surprise!
Not.
Buying votes ain’t cheap.
“Nice life you got there, taxpeasant. Be a shame if something happened to it...”
Epic fail.
As my Great Uncle Cal says, “Never overlook an opportunity to keep your big mouth shut”.