Treasure?

Following on from last weeks blog on the Beau Street Hoard this weeks blogs discusses in brief what to do if you find something that you think might be treasure….

Coins from the hoard

Who do I contact?

Your local Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) is normally the main point of contact for Treasure finds (details of your local FLO can be found at www.finds.org.uk)
You will need to provide wherever possible the equivalent of a six-figure National Grid Reference (100m2).

What objects do not qualify as treasure?

• objects whose owners can be traced

• unworked natural objects, including human and animal remains, even if they are found in association with Treasure

• objects from the foreshore which are wreckage

• single coins found on their own

• groups of coins lost one by one over a period of time

If you are in any doubt it is always safest to report your find. Your local Finds Liaison Officer will be glad to record all archaeological objects that you find.

What happens if the find is treasure?

If the institution or individual receiving the find on behalf of the Coroner believes that the find may be Treasure they will inform the British Museum or the National Museum Wales.

What if a museum wants to acquire my find?

The Coroner will hold an inquest to decide whether the find is Treasure. If the find is declared to be Treasure then it will be taken to the British Museum so that a valuation can be recommended by the Treasure Valuation Committee: this amount is what a museum will pay to acquire the find.

Who is eligible to receive a share of the reward?

• the finder who has obtained permission to be on the land from its owner, and acted in good faith

• the landowner

• the person who occupies the particular site as a tenant of the owner (unless this is precluded by the terms of the tenancy agreement)


Who is not eligible to receive a share of the reward?

• an archaeologist who makes a Treasure find

• a finder or a landowner who has acted in bad faith, and not in accordance with the Treasure Act Code

of Practice, may expect a reduced share of the valuation, or none at all

(for more on the Treasure Act follow this link http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/24/contents)


How long will it take before I receive my reward?

The period between the find being received by the Coroner and reward should not be longer than twelve months (provided no challenges are made), although it may be necessary to exceed this period in exceptional cases, such as large hoards of coins or finds that present particular difficulties.


For more information on the subject of treasure please follow this link http://finds.org.uk/treasure