---
entity_slug: treasure_trove
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T06:34:06.672892'
overall_score: 4.2
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition is precise and captures a distinct legal-economic concept
    with clear boundaries - concealed wealth with no provable ownership that becomes
    sovereign revenue. It avoids circularity and identifies specific characteristics
    that distinguish treasure-trove from other forms of wealth or property.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This concept is directly grounded in Smith's text from Book II, Chapter
    1, where he discusses various sources of sovereign revenue and the economic conditions
    of feudal times. The entity accurately reflects Smith's analysis of how economic
    insecurity led to wealth being concealed rather than productively employed.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Regulation" domain assignment is correct, as treasure-trove represents
    a regulatory mechanism for handling ownerless property and generating sovereign
    revenue. It fits naturally within the broader category of institutional arrangements
    that govern economic activity.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity has moderate VSM relevance, mapping primarily to S3 (internal
    regulation) as a mechanism for sovereign revenue collection and property rights
    enforcement. However, it's somewhat historically specific and doesn't strongly
    illuminate ongoing systemic functions in modern economic systems.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity provides good explanatory value by illustrating how institutional
    arrangements and economic insecurity can lead to misallocation of resources -
    wealth buried rather than invested productively. It demonstrates the relationship
    between property rights, political stability, and economic efficiency that is
    central to Smith's analysis.
---

# Evaluation: Treasure Trove

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition is precise and captures a distinct legal-economic concept with clear boundaries - concealed wealth with no provable ownership that becomes sovereign revenue. It avoids circularity and identifies specific characteristics that distinguish treasure-trove from other forms of wealth or property.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This concept is directly grounded in Smith's text from Book II, Chapter 1, where he discusses various sources of sovereign revenue and the economic conditions of feudal times. The entity accurately reflects Smith's analysis of how economic insecurity led to wealth being concealed rather than productively employed.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Regulation" domain assignment is correct, as treasure-trove represents a regulatory mechanism for handling ownerless property and generating sovereign revenue. It fits naturally within the broader category of institutional arrangements that govern economic activity.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity has moderate VSM relevance, mapping primarily to S3 (internal regulation) as a mechanism for sovereign revenue collection and property rights enforcement. However, it's somewhat historically specific and doesn't strongly illuminate ongoing systemic functions in modern economic systems.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides good explanatory value by illustrating how institutional arrangements and economic insecurity can lead to misallocation of resources - wealth buried rather than invested productively. It demonstrates the relationship between property rights, political stability, and economic efficiency that is central to Smith's analysis.
