Home > Treasure Act 1996

'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 cupThe Ringlemere gold cup is a Bronze Age vessel found in 2001 by a metal detectorist in a field near Sandwich in the English county of Kent. Although badly crushed by plough damage it can be seen to be 14cm high with corrugated sides. Only five similar cup. Non treasure finds are the remit of the Portable Antiquities SchemeThe Portable Antiquities Scheme or PAS is a voluntary programme run by the United Kingdom government to record the increasing numbers of small finds of archaeological interest found by members of the public. The scheme was begun in 1997 and now covers mos.