Good question... tbh I knew nothing about what I found on the beach and now know only a fraction more. I am a firm believer of the adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.. so in not going to be super bummed if I'm just the victim of a prank or attempted scam. I'm learning loads here and am grateful for all your input. If it turns out to be a real paper wallet,.. with real coin... great... I'll try doing what i can to find the owner.. if I've simply found someone's attempt at humour... sounds a little odd ..but ok... ya got me!! Maybe I'm wasting all your time by chasing a rediculous red herring... I don't know.. apologies if so. Maybe I shld try sweeping (.. a new word I've learnt) the coin into another account to see if it's legit.... but is that like trying the key I found in a front door even though I know full well it's not my house?
In order to check the 'balance' of this paper wallet; no matter whether it's a 24- or 12-word seed phrase or a single private key with a public key next to it, you can check it in a secure way using
Tails OS.
If I was you, I'd boot a computer using a Tails live USB stick, import the seed or private key (whatever it is) into the preinstalled Electrum wallet and get its actual addresses.
In case of a seed
phrase, it can deterministically generate private keys and derive public keys or addresses from those. In that case, generate like 100 of them and write them down.
If it's just a single-key paper wallet with just one private key, it's easier since there will be just one address (actually 3; one of
each address type).
Then shut it down, boot into your regular, internet-enabled OS, install
Tor Browser, visit a blockchain explorer of your choice and enter those addresses you noted down.