- Treasure Act
- The following finds are Treasure under the Act, if found after 24 September 1997 (or, in the case of category 2, if found after 1 January 2003):
- Any metallic object, other than a coin, provided that at least 10 per cent by weight of metal is precious metal (that is, gold or silver) and that it is at least 300 years old when found. If the object is of prehistoric date it will be Treasure provided any part of it is precious metal.
- Any group of two or more metallic objects of any composition of prehistoric date* that come from the same find (*see note 3 below)
- Two or more coins from the same find provided they are at least 300 years old when found and contain 10% gold or silver (if the coins contain less than 10 per cent of gold or silver there must be at least ten of them).
Only the following groups of coins will normally be regarded as coming from the same find:- hoards that have been deliberately hidden
- smaller groups of coins, such as the contents of purses, that may been dropped or lost
- votive or ritual deposits.
- Any object, whatever it is made of, that is found in the same place as, or had previously been together with, another object that is Treasure.
- Any object that would previously have been treasure trove, but does not fall within the specific categories given above. Only objects that are less than 300 years old, that are made substantially of gold or silver, that have been deliberately hidden with the intention of recovery and whose owners or heirs are unknown will come into this category.
- Note:
1) An object or coin is part of the ‘same find’ as another object or coin if it is found in the same place as, or had previously been together with, the other object. Finds may have become scattered since they were originally deposited in the ground.
2) Single coins will not be treasure, unless they are found in association with objects that are treasure, or unless there is exceptionally strong evidence that they were buried with the intention of recovery.
Section 3 (2) of the Act defines the term ‘coin’ as including any metal token that was, or can reasonably be assumed to have been, used or intended for use as or instead of money. This definition only includes coins and tokens made after the introduction of the first coinage into this country during the Iron Age period and excludes objects made earlier such as iron currency bars. Jettons or reckoning counters are also excluded from this definition.
3) “of prehistoric date” means dating from the Iron Age or any earlier period
Treasure Valuation Committee
To encourage responsible behaviour by finders, the likely market value of each Treasure find is established by the independent Treasure Valuation Committee.
The Committee is made up of experts in the various types of antiquity likely to be inspected, an official from the leading metal detectorist body, and an expert on museums and their collections.
It values each Treasure find on the basis of willing buyer/willing seller, and expects Treasure finds to have only had a light cleaning to help its identification. The finder, the find site owner, and the acquiring museum are informed of the valuation.
Once all parties have accepted the valuation, the museum is invoiced for the agreed amount.
As soon as the Crown receives the agreed valuation, ownership of the Treasure item passes to the museum, and it is this sum which is then made as ex gratia payments for the finder and the find site owner.
Who are the members of the Treasure Valuation Committee?
Professor Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn. Chairman.
Senior Fellow of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.
David Dykes
Expert in Medieval coins and formerly the head of the National Museum of Wales. Currently serves on the board of the British Numismatic Society. He has been appointed for a four year term, to last until 17 October 2014.
John Cherry
Former keeper:Romano British Antiquities at the British Museum
Peter Clayton
Writer, Lecturer and expert on ancient archaeological artefacts
Trevor Austin
The General Secretary of the National Council for Metal Detecting. This role allows him to liaise between the Committee and finders of Treasure, who are overwhelmingly metal detector users. He was appointed to the Committee in December 2003. He was re-appointment in March 2009.
Ian Carradice
(University of St. Andrews, expert on Roman coins).
Tim Pestell
(Keeper of Archaeology at Norwich Castle Museum)
Ms Hetty Gleave.
Partner at Hunters Solicitors, in Lincolns Inn, Specialist in Cultural property law.
To encourage responsible behaviour by finders, the likely market value of each Treasure find is established by the independent Treasure Valuation Committee.
The Committee is made up of experts in the various types of antiquity likely to be inspected, an official from the leading metal detectorist body, and an expert on museums and their collections.
It values each Treasure find on the basis of willing buyer/willing seller, and expects Treasure finds to have only had a light cleaning to help its identification. The finder, the find site owner, and the acquiring museum are informed of the valuation.
Once all parties have accepted the valuation, the museum is invoiced for the agreed amount.
As soon as the Crown receives the agreed valuation, ownership of the Treasure item passes to the museum, and it is this sum which is then made as ex gratia payments for the finder and the find site owner.
Who are the members of the Treasure Valuation Committee?
Professor Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn. Chairman.
Senior Fellow of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.
David Dykes
Expert in Medieval coins and formerly the head of the National Museum of Wales. Currently serves on the board of the British Numismatic Society. He has been appointed for a four year term, to last until 17 October 2014.
John Cherry
Former keeper:Romano British Antiquities at the British Museum
Peter Clayton
Writer, Lecturer and expert on ancient archaeological artefacts
Trevor Austin
The General Secretary of the National Council for Metal Detecting. This role allows him to liaise between the Committee and finders of Treasure, who are overwhelmingly metal detector users. He was appointed to the Committee in December 2003. He was re-appointment in March 2009.
Ian Carradice
(University of St. Andrews, expert on Roman coins).
Tim Pestell
(Keeper of Archaeology at Norwich Castle Museum)
Ms Hetty Gleave.
Partner at Hunters Solicitors, in Lincolns Inn, Specialist in Cultural property law.