I've heard many many opinions and stories of the Treasure Trove process over this last year, many of which haven't been encouraging I have to say.
Recently I have been lucky enough to find my own potential treasure in the shape and form of a possible 12th Century Silver ring with what could be a Knights Templar design on it. I vaguely recognised the design as at the time I was reading The illustrated Davinci Code and have read loads on the Knights Templars. The other detectorists out with me that day - namely Waltonbasinman- (Paul) , Casa-Dos(Kev) and Coleggwent(Phil) alerted me to the fact it could be treasure trove - Good to be out with experienced detectorists!
When I'd finally stopped running around in circles with my top over my head - scaring the local animal and people population, It soon dawned on me that I knew absolutely nothing about the Treasure Trove process, so thats where this thread comes in, as I experience and learn the process I will enter it as a diary format below. If it helps people understand the Treasure Trove process then I'll have achieved what I've set out to do. If on the otherhand the ring turns out to be a more recent reproduction ring then this could turn out to be a rather short entry.
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Diary of Treasure Trove Process
Friday 30th October 2009Found Silver Ring on pasture in Herefordshire and it has been Identified as
potential Treasure Trove.
Saturday 31st October 2009After trying several times to contact the farmer by phone last night, I finally managed to get hold of him today and informed him of the "ring find". He was very interested and expressed an interest to see the ring "in the flesh" so to speak. We arranged a day and I went on to explain the process that would take place, to the best of my knowledge.
Monday 2nd November 2009After a bit of Web Searching I got hold of Peter Reavill's E mail address (finds liaison officer for Herefordshire). I set about Emailing him some details and pictures of the ring, I also Emailed a copy of this Email to Mark Lodwick (finds Liason officer for my area based at Cardiff museum).
Tuesday 3rd November 2009Reply from Mark Lodwick today as follows:-
Hi Rob,
Thanks for sending this through. The ring does look as if it is silver and the form suggests that it is probably 12th century (well over 300 years old!). The ring is therefore likely to qualify as Treasure under the 1996 Treasure Act.
Please could you notify the coroner of the discovery (Hereford coroner - D.M. Halpen, 01432 355301); I will collect the ring and complete the paperwork at the next meeting, unless you are in Cardiff before(?). I can then forward the completed Treasure Receipt to the coroner. I would be grateful if you could work out an 8-figure NGR or mark the findspot on the attached map.
Phoned the coroners office as requested by Mark Lodwick, they registered my report but have said they're happy to wait for the official report from Mark.
Wednesday 4th November 2009Returned to Herefordshire today with Phil Coleggwent, met the farmer and showed him the ring. He and his wife were fascinated with the Ring and pleased to have an insight into their land. Returned to the find-spot with Phil and obtained its GPS position- This I Emailed to Mark in the evening.
Reply off Peter Reavill today as follows:-
Hi Rob,
Thanks for your messages via Hereford Museum, just stepped back into the
office after a couple of days leave - so sorry for the delay in my reply.
It would seem best that you deal directly with Mark on this as I am rather
a long way from your base in Cardiff. Mark will forward me anything that I
need to see. If you haven't contacted the coroner already it is probably
easiest to speak with his coroners officers who deal with all enquiries of
treasure. They can be reached on 01432 347 351 / 347 178. If you could then
deposit with Mark when you next see him all should be well. If you explain
that to the Coroner / Coroners Officers that would be good - otherwise they
will tell you to bring it to me
Did much else turn up from the outing at ****** - you know of the Templar
History in the area, but I have heard of Saxon finds from the area
but never seen them - it would be great if Mark (or I) could make a record
as we have so very little evidence from that part of the world and your
detecting could make a big difference to our understanding.
Anyway - If I can help at all let me know - contact details below
Tuesday 12th November 2009Email off Peter Reavill in reply to the details of the findspot and Pictures of the ring:-
Hi Rob, many thanks for the images of the ring - what a nice find and
potentially really significant with the close proximity and documentary
evidence of the templars in the area. Glad to hear that you are recording
things with Mark, I'll keep an eye out for his records on the database and
if anything interesting turns up would love to hear about it. The area
could well produce material of any age but I have heard of Saxon material -
Looking at the maps it wouldn't surprise me if Bronze Age material might
turn up. I'm not about this Wednesday but If I'm in Hereford on a Weds
before Christmas will let you know and pop along to meet you.
Hope all is well and look forward to seeing some interesting finds soon
Wednesday 25th November 2009Handed the ring in to Mark Lodwick tonight at the R.A.R.E meeting.
He had a good look at it and in his words the ring "is the real McCoy"
So thats reassuring. He also sticks by his initial Date of 12th Century.
He explained the process to me thoroughly and has said that he will keep me
up to date on any progress.
Tuesday 15th December 2009Went to Museum of Wales today and met Mark Lodwick. He handed me a
preliminary treasure report. Tomorrow 16th December, Mark and the ring
are going to the British Museum in London, there to stay (The ring not Mark)
until the curator either confirms Marks findings or comes up with his own.
Without going into too much detail there is only two other similar 12th Century
rings of similar styling to the one I have found - one of these being a fragmented ring.
Thursday 24th December 2009Received a letter off Caroline Barton today. Assistant Registrar at The British Museum.
They confirm that The British Museum is now in receipt of the ring and go on to explain the
procedure from here on in.
I'll itemise the process below:-
- Examine the ring to ascertain the likeliness that it is Treasure
- Determine whether any museum wishes to acquire the ring. If no museum wishes to acquire the ring it will be disclaimed and returned to the finder once the landowners permission has been obtained
- If a museum wishes to acquire the ring a report will then be written for the coroner, part of which may include a 'non-destructive scientific analysis of the ring'. The finder will receive a copy of this report. A coroners inquest will also be requested at this time
- The Coroner takes over from here and will make a decision as to wether the ring is treasure, who found it, where and when the ring was found
- If the ring is declared treasure it then passes to the Valuation stage of which The British Museum is then responsible for.
- Should the British Museum be interested in acquiring the ring for themselves the valuation will be taken out of their hands and passed to The Department for Culture Media and Sport.
Wednesday 4th November 2009Received a copy letter sent to the Coroner in Hereford today. The British Museum has agreed with Mark Lodwicks initial report of the ring and has requested that the coroner holds an inquest and inform British Museum of its outcome.
The letter goes on to inform the coroner that a museum has already expressed a wish to aquire the Ring should it be declared as treasure.
Tuesday 2nd February 2010I received a phonecall today off the Herefordshire Coroners secretary explaining why they'd been involved and the extent of the coroners involvment in the treasure process.
She went on to explain that both myself and the farmer would receive a letter off the coroner which I needed to read , sign and send back.
Saturday 22nd May 2010Received a letter offf the Deputy Coroner for Hereford today, informing me that they have now set a date of 25th June 2010 for the Inquest Hearing. It goes on to explain that I am not formally required to attend the inquest but if I'd like to I'd be more than welcome. Its a no brainer for me, probably will be my only chance to see through a treasure porocess in its entirety, so I'll be attending.
Friday 25th June 2010Inquest went ahead minus myself today, typical waited months for the case only to have my neck locked up and unable to drive.
Wednesday 30th June 2010Received letter off the coroners today, stating that the inquest had now confirmed the Ring to be treasure and that they had informed The British Museum of their decision
Thursday 2nd September 2010Received a letter from the British Museum today confirming that they had set a provisional treasure valutation for the ring, this valuation will then be finalised in a meeting of the Treasure Valuation Commitee on the 1st October 2010.
The following is the Provisional Treasure Valuation.
Basis for Valuation:
The ring is in good condition and a shade earlier than many coming out of the ground at present. It is a fine quality object and perhaps interesting coming from the Welsh Marches. It has some local interest. I have valued it at slightly more than my initial reaction.
I hope my valuation will not come as too much disappointment to the finder. What I have suggested reflects that it does have a element of interest to the local historian whic is a subject with a considerable following.
In the absence of exact commercial parallels, most objects are unique in design, my valuation is based on my now more than 50 years professional experience in this field and on a close observation on the various coin fairs which I regulary attend in London. These lesser pieces tend not to appear, let alone be illustrated, in auction catalogues so a commercial precedent is hard (impossible?) to establish.
Valuation £200
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