Devon Treasure Hunters Strike Rich Seam (Viking Gold)

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 12-17-2005 | Western Daily Press

[blam]

This article is written as if there's an attached picture. There isn't and I could not find one in a search.

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[SunkenCiv]

"Under the law, anyone who does not hand over an item they suspect to be valuable within 14 days can be prosecuted and be fined or even jailed."

So, if you find something, and neglect to do until day 15, you may as well take your chances. ;')

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam. Looks like ploughing is pretty shallow in Devonshire.

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[orionblamblam]

> So, if you find something, and neglect to do until day 15, you may as well take your chances.

You gotta wonder how many treasures have been melted down or sold off a scrap at a time to get around this.

[SunkenCiv]

Or just put into collections, or sold overseas. Someone I met who was from the UK (and apparently made his living in various ways) told me about the metal detectors he'd used in the past. The technology is way past the Heathkit level. :') My guess is, there will be many more finds of this kind. I'd be surprised if more were not found right near the find spots of these troves.

[Servant of the 9]

"Under the law, anyone who does not hand over an item they suspect to be valuable within 14 days can be prosecuted and be fined or even jailed."

So, if you find something, and neglect to do until day 15, you may as well take your chances. ;')

I doubt it.
All laws read like that. Take a look sometime at the potential penalties for not getting your car pollution inspected by the deadline.

From what I have read, you are entitled to independent apraisers if you wish and if no museum wants to pay the fair value, the items are returned to you.

It is just a system to give the museums first right of refusal at historical items.
If they go into the private market without being recorded, their provenance is doubtful and part of their historical value is destroyed.

SO9

[SunkenCiv]

I couldn't get the source website to do much of anything.

http://www.westpress.co.uk/

[yer gonna put yer eye out]

"all been officially declared treasure and have become the property of the Crown."

"The Crown"......ROTFLOL.

[vic ryan]

I've never been "gobsmacked" I don't think but it sounds pretty painful.

[Mike Darancette]

The finders will now be rewarded for handing over the items at 'market value',

Wow for once a sensible policy for treasure hunters.

[muleskinner]

It's hard to beat a good gobsmacking.

[tenthirteen]

I wonder if Mr. A'Lee is related to Mr. B'Lee.

[ASOC]

At the risk of sounding *incredibly* stupid - can metal detector sense gold? I thought only ferrous metals affected the RF field used in the detectors - any pointers / knowledge or links appreciated.

Yes, thank you, but I don't Google these days

[Blood of Tyrants]

Well, at least they get "fair market value" of the items. Most greedy countries declare that ANY treasure found fully belongs to the state (never mind the fact that they did absolutely nothing to recover it).

[muleskinner]

See www.minelab.com. or http://home.howstuffworks.com/metal-detector.htm

Minelab, Fischer, Garrett and White's are the major metal detecting manufacturers. They all make gold specific machines.

[ASOC]

Thanks so much, now I have something *positive* to do on my vacation.

Have fun!

[Ditter]

hmmmmmmm I would sure be tempted to put that ring in my pocket. When I grew up
"finders keepers, losers weepers" was the rule.

[BuglerTex]

Now Johnny, you have not been out smacking gobs again, have you?

[wolfcreek]

BS, the "Crown" doesn't need anymore riches. I'd be FedExing it back to the States, one piece at a time.