3,537. Containers Marked With Symbols
Hilchos Maaser Sheini and Neta Revai 6:7
Let’s say that a man tells his sons, “Even if you’re dying, don’t touch that corner.” If money is found there, it’s considered secular. Let’s say that he buried money in front of them, saying that it belongs to person X or that it’s from the second tithe. If he appears to be disingenuous, we don’t accept his word; if he appears to be sincere, then we do.
Hilchos Maaser Sheini and Neta Revai 6:8
If someone found a vessel marked with the letter mem (“M”), its contents are presumed to be maaser sheini (second tithe). If it’s marked with a dalet (“D”), its contents are considered demai (doubtfully tithed). If a tet (“T”), the contents are assumed to be tevel (untithed). If the vessel is marked with a kuf (“K”), we assume that it’s for a korban (an offering). If the vessel is metal (rather than earthenware), we assume that both the vessel and the contents were consecrated for an offering. This is because, in times of persecution, they would identify such things using a single letter.