Treasure Act 1996 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to abolish treasure trove and to make fresh provision in relation to treasure. |
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| Territorial extent | England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 4 July 1996 |
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Status: Current legislation
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| Text of the Treasure Act 1996 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk | |
The Treasure Act 1996 is a special law in the United Kingdom. It helps decide which old objects found in the ground are considered "treasure." If you find something that fits the rules of this law, you must report it. This helps make sure important historical items are kept safe and studied.
Contents
What is the Treasure Act?
This law mainly covers treasure found in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It tells people what to do if they dig up something old and valuable. The main idea is to make sure these finds are properly looked at. This way, museums can get them if they are important.
What Happens When Treasure is Found?
If you find something you think might be treasure, the law says you must report it.
Reporting Your Find
You need to tell your local coroner within 14 days. A coroner is an official who looks into certain deaths and also deals with treasure finds. They help decide if something is officially treasure.
Deciding if it's Treasure
After you report a find, the coroner holds a special meeting called an inquest. At this meeting, they decide if the object meets the rules to be called "treasure."
Selling to a Museum
If the object is declared treasure, you must offer to sell it to a museum. The price is set by a group of experts called the Treasure Valuation Committee. You can only keep the item if no museum wants to buy it, or if they cannot afford it.
Rewards for Finders
The Treasure Act also has a reward system. If a museum buys the treasure, the money can be shared. The reward can go to the person who found the treasure. It can also go to the owner of the land where it was found. The Treasure Valuation Committee decides how much the reward is and how it is split. For example, the famous Ringlemere gold cup was a successful find under this Act.
If a find is not treasure, it might be handled by the Portable Antiquities Scheme. This scheme helps record archaeological finds that are not treasure.
What Counts as Treasure?
The Act has clear rules for what is considered "treasure." Here are some of the main definitions:
Old Coins
- If you find two or more coins together, and they are at least 300 years old.
- If these coins have less than 10% gold or silver, there must be at least 10 coins in the find for it to be treasure.
Old Objects
- Any single object (not a coin) that is at least 300 years old.
- This object must contain at least 10% gold or silver.
- Two or more prehistoric objects made of base metal (like bronze) found together.
Hidden Items
- Objects made mostly of gold or silver, even if they are less than 300 years old.
- These items must have been hidden on purpose, with the idea of getting them back later.
- The original owner or their family must be unknown.
Associated Finds
- Any other object found in the same place as something already declared treasure.
- This means if you find a pot with treasure coins inside, the pot also becomes treasure.
Treasure in Scotland
The Treasure Act 1996 does not apply in Scotland. In Scotland, treasure finds are handled differently. They follow older rules known as Scots Common Law.
