Brits who stumble on certain coins must report them or risk jail sentence
UK households that discover particular coins must declare them to the authorities - or risk hefty penalties. Under the Treasure Act 1996, those who make discoveries are legally obliged to report potential Treasure finds. From now on, watch out for any unique coins.
Treasure encompasses gold or silver artefacts, or collections of coins from the same discovery site which are all at least 300 years old. Collections of two or more prehistoric base-metal assemblages also count as Treasure. Your local finds liaison officer will gladly offer guidance on what might constitute Treasure and assist you through the Treasure declaration procedure.
Government guidance, supervised by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), states: "You must report treasure to your local Finds Liaison Officer within either: 14 days of first finding it [or] 14 days of realising an item might be treasure, even if you've had it for longer. You only need to report items officially defined as treasure.
"There's an unlimited fine or up to three months in prison for not reporting treasure." You will receive contact from either a local Finds Liaison Officer or museum curator to discuss how and where you made the discovery.
Then, you'll receive a receipt. The Finds Liaison Officer or museum curator will subsequently prepare a report on the discovery. Museums may express interest if it could be treasure.
The coroner will subsequently conduct an inquest, reports Birmingham Live. You might be invited to attend the inquest, alongside the site occupier and landowner where the treasure was discovered, and given the chance to pose questions. The Treasure Valuation Committee will enlist the expertise of a specialist to determine the value of the find.
They will then advise the Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the treasure's worth and how much should be allocated to anyone entitled to a portion of the reward.
You'll have the opportunity to voice your thoughts on the valuation, along with the site occupier and landowner. If you're the discoverer, had permission to be on the land and acted in good faith, you may receive a share of the reward.
However, if you act dishonestly (for instance by trespassing or attempting to conceal the find), your share of the reward may be reduced or even forfeited entirely.
Archaeologists and volunteers involved in an archaeological dig or investigation are not eligible for a share in a reward. The items will be returned to you, and both the landowner and site occupier will be notified. They have the right to object within 28 days. The coroner will retain the find until any disputes are settled.
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