Money Moral Dilemma: Should my brother share the money if he sells the coin collection I gave him?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

During my childhood I collected old and rare coins. I eventually lost interest and gave the collection to my younger brother, and as far as I know he's never added to it. I've now discovered some of the coins are very valuable. My brother's mentioned he's considering selling the collection - if he does, should he share the money he makes with me?

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tacpot12

No. You gave him the collection. This makes it a gift and he now owns it outright. However, if you have a good relationship with your brother you could mention that if he were to give you something from the proceeds of the sale, there is something you would really like to buy with it. This at least opens up the idea of him giving you something from the sale. 

Marvel1

No, you give it away.

Pollycat

Another no.
You gave it away
It no longer belongs to you.
The owner of the coin collection can do with it what they will

I suggest you approach any discussion with your brother about who the profit belongs to with a conciliatory tone.

74jax

No....... 

SteveSi

If your brother didn't want them you would probably given them to someone else. Your brother discovered some were rare, but you would never have known if you kept them. Anyway, a gift is a gift!

iclayt

No, he doesn't have to share it. Morally I think he should, but I might just be saying that because it wouldn't occur to me not to split the proceeds with my sibling if they had done the hard work of collecting it in the first place.

Katecooks

Morally, yes he should and I can't believe he wouldn't do so - after all you collected the coins and he hasn't added to the collection. But as everyone here has said you gifted the coins to him, so they belong to him and if he doesn't want to share the profit, tough luck (but no Christmas presents for him for many years...)

thorsoak

You gave it away when you didn't know it had value - so now that you know it has value, you want a share in it? 

telsco

It's not your dilemma, it's your brother's. 😁

Although, he doesn't seem to think it is a dilemma or he would have written in and asked the question himself. 😄

Peapod63

Absolutely not. You gave it to him. Therefore he can do what he likes with it which also means he can sell it and keep the money.