Two people are due in court for failing to declare the discovery of 900 iron age gold staters in September 2020.

Reporting treasure finds

Under the Treasure Act 1996, a find of more than one gold coin in the same location constitutes treasure. Treasure finds must be reported to the coroner within 14 days. This is best done through your FLO.

If a treasure find is not reported then those responsible for not reporting it, forfeit any reward. Have a look at my article on the Largest hoard of hammered gold coins ever found for how some finders forfeited their reward for their dishonesty in not reporting a find.

The British Museum revealed some of the more unusual finds of 2020, the vast majority being found by detectorists.

Their highlighted item was a Medieval silver gilt mount, which was found by a detectorist in Wakefield in September 2020 (PAS ID: SWYOR-4E467E) . It depicts a knight emerging from a snail on the back of what appears to be a goat. It may be an example of 13th century Yorkshire wit, although exactly what the joke was remains a mystery. In manuscripts at the time, snails were thought to refer to cowardly or non-chivalric behaviour.

One of the other unusual items in the report is the Medieval gold seal matrix, shown below (PAS ID: NMS-CB2CBE) . It is inset with a stone, probably carnelian, that depicts an elephant and castle.

Although few people in medieval England would have seen an elephant, there was one in the royal menagerie of Henry III between 1255-57.

The inscription reads * PARMAT EST ‧ WEVEI ‧ DRA OBEST which is thought to mean ‘armed with a shield, the outlaw dragon is harmful’

17 year old detectorist, Harry Williams, who was out detecting for only his second time, unearthed a Second World War landmine.

Six police cars attended and set up a 250 metre cordon. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team determined that it was a British copy, dummy version of a Tellermine 35, a German anti-tank mine. It was used to train soldiers in the Second World War.

Winner

The person with the equal highest score and nearest the tie breaker hammer price wins four Spink books.

Congratulations to the winner, Steve Critchley from Peterborough.

Leader Board Prize

The person on the leader board who was nearest the tie breaker hammer price wins Spink’s Coins of England.

The winner was Brad Cowlbeck from Suffolk.

Leader board

Tie Breaker Auction Lot

Spink’s Auction of Frank Viles’ sixpences

Lot 3673, EDWARD VI SIXPENCE

Description
Edward VI (1547-1553), Sixpence, 1551-53, Third Period, fine silver issue, Tower, m.m. tun, 3.12g, 12h (Spink 2483; North 1938), a trace of creasing, otherwise well-struck and wholesome with a strong portrait, good very fine and pleasing for type

Estimate: £200 – £300

Hammer Price: £1,100

Information

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Image credits

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Rules

The quiz will remain open until 11pm on Sunday 3 January 2021.

The person with the most correct answers will be declared the winner.

In the event of a tie, the tie breaker question will be used to determine the winner.

If there is still a tie, the person who completed the quiz in the quickest time will be the winner.

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Your name and email address will only be used for the administration of the quiz.

All names and email addressed will be deleted within 30 days of the end of the quiz.

Quiz

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Prize

The winner will be awarded a prize of the following four books, courtesy of Spink. Click the title for details of each book.