Any way to get it back?

I'm assuming I must have sold it, because the king of Dernholm sent me to collect taxes from Black Root, and the guy agreed to give it to me. I didn't realize it was in a collection box (which I've since read online), and thought it would just be cash gold. And I'm always selling everything I don't need. So when I got back to Dernholm, he tells me to give it to him & I don't have it. I put 2 +2 together, and I figure I must've sold it.

Any way to figure out where an item is in the game? A hack or anything? Or would I have to go to each shopkeeper? I know I could restore, but this actually happened several levels ago & quite frankly, I'd rather not lose those levels just for a bit of XP.

As I remember correctly you don't get taxes from Black Root right away. There was a quest you had to do before you could convince the mayor (or whatever he's called) to align with Cumbria.

I remember convincing him to pay the taxes, and I remember him paying me. I just can't find the collection box.

This is late, but in case someone else has this specific issue: there are (at least) two Chests of Gold in the game - one is the object of a Thieves' Underground quest in Caladon, but it exists whether you're in the TU or not.

I don't know if it will fulfill the tax quest, but I bet it does; Arcanum is pretty good about allowing side channels.

SPOILERSPOILERSPOILERitsonashipwrecktothesouthjustfollowthecoastSPOILERSPOILERSPOILER

Contacting you through GOGpm...

For what it's worth, whenever I pick up an item that looks like it might be a one-of-a-kind thing I stash it in my private warehouse, the one you clear out in a quest in Tarant.

An excellent idea. I'll have to remember that on my next play-through. I'm way too far into it to restore now.

It's a really good spot - easy to find, tons of room in there with something like 6 crates to fill up, close to the crone who can identify the magic stuff, close to the seller by the docks, close to the docks themselves so it's nearby when you come from other areas by ship, not too far from the town entry area and those shops, but it's a bit far from the merchants in the northwest corner area.

ChaunceyK what level were you when you tried this quest? According to GameFaqs.com, if you are below level 10 you get money instead of taxes.
Also have you tried doing the dagger quest that the mayor gives you? If so you might be able to get them that way.

I don't remember my Level at the time, but it was considerably lower than 35 since that's where am I now. But I do remember the mayor agreeing to join, and when I go to see him again he has nothing of importance to say to me, just a generic greeting. So I figure he must've given me either the box or the cash. But then when I see the leader of Dernholm, he says "give it to me" and I don't have the option to give it to him.

I could try the other quests when I get back down there...right now, I'm up north with the Dwarven clans.

*scratches head* . . . I can't find my PMs anymore . . . (but just read the text on that line, it's run together so people who read ahead like me have a chance of not seeing it before they know to stop . . . wish there were a real spoiler tag here)

@ HereForTheBeer:
On storage, I personally prefer P. Schuyler's first basement level; it has 4 barrels and one chest, 4 of which are in a little cluster, and it's right in the middle of all the stores.

Also, one easy way to check if someone still has an item is to pickpocket them (without taking anything) - that will reveal their full inventory. Just using the command to view their inventory and what they're wearing doesn't have any effect (loss of alignment or risk of getting caught), and in fact doesn't even make you run up to them. I use it whenever I enter a new area, even on enemies to see what weapons they're using, so I can plan accordingly. :-)

Go here, it says you haven't read it yet...

http://gogpm.barefoot-monkey.org.za/messages/

...I just asked about the location.

And I did try the pick-pocket trick, but he doesn't have it on him.

Oh cool!

. . . that's quite a clever activation method, I like it. Thanks for showing me this!