DetectingWales.com

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nighthawks-tracking-the-criminals-plundering-ancient-sites-with-the-latest-equipment-a6789921.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nighthawks-tracking-the-criminals-plundering-ancient-sites-with-the-latest-equipment-a6789921.html)

A very interesting read thanks for posting. ☺ Jerry.

The article is quite interesting. The part in comments where the chap was found guilty of finding a gold roman coin and selling it on, is unclear to me. The council claimed that since the coin was found on a public footpath, it belonged to them. I have always believed that any finds of this nature belongs neither to the finder nor the landowner but to the crown and must be reported either to TT or PAS to be claimed as such or not, with the item either returned to finder or reward offered. The deal with landowner is between finder and landowner.
My own dealings with landowners is such that items up to a certain cash value are retained by me, anything over this is 50/50.
Right now, I am of the opinion that the council is wrong, the judge who found him guilty could be wrong or the writer is not telling the whole story.
Any thoughts on the matter that might enlighten me.
 

Hi Amadeus a single coin doesn't constitute treasure under the 1997 act (Two or more coins from the same find provided they are at least 300 years old when found and contain 10 per cent gold or silver) and so is like all other finds the property of the landowner, now I presume that he was detecting without permission or even if he had permission he didn't report the find the the council (landowner) who were the rightful owners of the coin and would thus constitute as theft ;)

Very interesting mate, thanks for posting  ;)

Thanks, cleared it up for me.

Of course there have been exceptions.  I noted this travesty of justice because it was close to where I lived.  Even if her story was confused and she did ignore a letter from the Coroner how can one coin be treasure ??

http://medieval-history.hi7.co/woman-loses-her-medieval-coin-after-being-convicted-of-not-reporting-the-treasure-5642a9d7c58f8.html (http://medieval-history.hi7.co/woman-loses-her-medieval-coin-after-being-convicted-of-not-reporting-the-treasure-5642a9d7c58f8.html)

It wasn't a coin in the true sense of the word and so fell under the title of artefact  :-\

Rather like a coin weight then Geoff ?  I s'pose that explains the action taken.  Still think it was a bit harsh. 

I agree Val on the face of it it does seem a bit draconian but I get the feeling there is more to the story than we're being told :-\