SWNS
Posted on 01/02/2015 3:06:59 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Amateur treasure hunters armed with metal detectors unearthed the rare Anglo Saxon coins near Aylesbury, Bucks., during a Christmas dig.
The stunning find is one of the most significant in Britain in recent years, say experts.
The perfectly preserved pieces, which feature the faces of Anglo Saxon kings, were in a lead bucket which was buried two feet underground.
The extremely rare coins could be worth more than £1million and Weekend Wanderers Detecting Club leader Pete Welch said the find was "very significant".
Pete, 56, said: "...It looks like only two people have handled these coins. The person who made them and the person who buried them. Metal detecting is a bit random but most farms have a bit of history so you have a chance of finding something. I think this was a case of you either move to the right or move to the left and on this case our member moved the right way..."
The discovery of a total of 5251 coins was made during the annual dig on December 21 on rural farmland the group had visited before.
After they were found archaeologist Ros Tyrrell was called to help excavate them.
The coins are in "superb condition" and show the faces of some of the kings of England dating back 1000 years.
They include coins from the reigns of Ethelred the Unready (978-1016 AD) and Canute, or Cnut (1016-1035 AD)...
He added that as the coins are precious metal over 300 years old they fall within the remit of the Treasure Act.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailyrecord.co.uk ...
SWNS
This was linked in the Archaeology magazine website version of the story:
The surprising discovery of an Anglo-Saxon feasting hall in the village of Lyminge is offering a new view of the lives of these pagan kings
by Jason Urbanus
Monday, May 20, 2013
http://www.archaeology.org/issues/89-1305/features/735-anglo-saxon-pagan-kings-lyminge-kent
So does the government steal them or does the farmer get a cut
The guy who left it there is going to be awfully mad.
Actually, why do the British have such crummy property rights?
He added that as the coins are precious metal over 300 years old they fall within the remit of the Treasure Act.
They will now be taken to the British Museum for conservation and identification before a coroner will decide whether they are legally treasure.
A museum will then be able to bid for the coins with the money from the sale being split between the land owner and the individual who made the discovery.
“The Treasure Act 1996 is an Act of Parliament designed to deal with finds of treasure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It legally obliges finders of objects which constitute a legally defined term of treasure to report their find to their local coroner within fourteen days. An inquest led by the coroner then determines whether the find constitutes treasure or not. If it is declared to be treasure then the owner must offer the item for sale to a museum at a price set by an independent board of antiquities experts (Treasure Valuation Committee). Only if a museum expresses no interest in the item, or is unable to purchase it, can the owner retain it.”
“Under English law a landowner has sole title to any archaeological artifacts found on his or her property. Legitimate metal detectorists come to an agreement with the owners of the land they detect on to share any proceeds from treasure sales.”
Just breathtaking.
And imagine that there are tons of these things still just sitting under the grass in the U.K.!
Their property rights are quite straightforward.
Everything belongs to the Crown.
Thanks to both of you for the quick replies
Sounds perfectly fair to me.
It’s not that bad. At least they get paid if they find archeologically valuable stuff. If you find Indian “antiquities” here, not only do you not get to keep it, you probably can’t do anything else with your property.
They might want to consider revolution... or not.
Well, consider the alternative. He might have invested in Bitcoin.
The Tresure laws have the effect of discouraging midnight plunder, which is a very good thing for the knowledge that would otherwise be lost forever. After the coroner has done his work, the find is appraised and any bidder must match it. The finder (who must have the land owner's permission to begin with), and the land owner are fairly compensated, IMO. Melt value would be far less than the appraised value of the treasure as historical artifacts.
Under Common Law treasure trove belonged to the Crown.
“A museum will then be able to bid for the coins with the money from the sale being split between the land owner and the individual who made the discovery.”
My advice to anybody anywhere who finds anything of value...keep quite and sell it privately.
“...A museum will then be able to bid for the coins with the money from the sale being split between the land owner and the individual who made the discovery....”
One museum will than be able to bid...
If you find something, SHUT UP!
Gives new meaning to “get the lead out”.
I’m so glad to have named my Great Dane after Canute, one of the kings depicted on the coins.
“...coins are precious metal over 300 years old they fall within the remit of the Treasure Act.”
What does this mean? That they can be taxed?
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