Defendant-State of Tamil Nadu represented by the District Collector, Tiruchirapalli, is the appellant in this second appeal. Plaintiff, respondent herein, filed O.S. No.200 of 1978, on the file of the District Munsif's Court Kulithalai, for a declaration that they are the absolute owners of the suit treasure, namely, 360 one Rupee coins of Queen Victoria era., and for costs of the suit.

2. Material averments in the plaint are as follows :-

360 One rupee coins of the era of Queen Victoria were found by the first plaintiff on 15-12-75, right in the middle of the ancestral family house, which belonged in common to him and his senior paternal uncle's grandson, 2nd plaintiff in the suit. Plaintiffs claim that they are the owners of the said property. The plaintiffs would say that they and their ancestors had been very ancient residents of the village of Inam Pudur in Manapparai Taluk. They had their very ancient ancestral house in the village Natham in S.F. No. 74. The plaintiffs have said that the ancestral house is very ancient one, well enclosed by a compound wall on all the four sides, and none else can have any access to the house. According to them, their common ancestor