Salamah bin Kuhayl (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I heard Suwayd bin Ghafalah (may Allah have mercy on him) say: I was on a military expedition and found a whip, and I picked it up. Zayd bin Suhan and Salman bin Rabi'ah (may Allah be pleased with them both) said to me: "Throw it away." I refused. We completed our expedition. Then I performed Hajj and passed through Madinah, where I met Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him). I mentioned this incident to him, and he said to me: In the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) I found a purse containing a hundred dinars. I brought it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "Announce it for a year." I announced it for a year, but I found no one who recognised it. I came back to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) again, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Announce it for a year." I did so, then returned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Announce it for another year." I did so, then returned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The fourth time he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Count them and remember its tie well. If its owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, make use of it." Salamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I do not know whether he (peace and blessings be upon him) said to announce it three times or once.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب اللقطة / 12055