Treasure Act 1996
The Treasure Act, 1996 is a piece of legislation designed to deal with finds of treasure primarily those made by metal detectorists in England and Wales. 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. If 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. Only if no museum expresses an interest in the item can the owner retain it.
'Treasure' is defined as being:
- All coins from the same hoard. A hoard is defined as two or more coins, as long as they are at least 300 years old when found. If they contain less than 10% gold or silver there has to be at least 10 in the hoard
- All prehistoric base-metal objects from the same find (two or more).
- Any find that is at least 300 years old and contain at least 10% gold or silver.
- Associated finds: any object of any material found in the same place as (or had previously been together with) another object that is deemed treasure.
Under English law a landowner has sole title to any archaeological artefacts found on his or her property. Legitimate metal detectorists come to an agreement the owners of the land they detect on to split any proceeds from treasure sales 50-50. Those who detect illegally, either on Scheduled sites or without the landowners' permission cannot benefit from the Treasure Act. Illegal detectorists have had their loot confiscated and can face fines and prison.
Successful cases involving the Treasure Act include that of the Ringlemere gold cup. Non treasure finds are the remit of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
