JERSEY PROPOSES NEW HERITAGE LAW ON HOARDS

A pair of metal detecting enthusiasts who unearthed almost 70,000 Iron Age coins said they were "very pleased" with proposals for a new law to make reporting and valuing treasure easier.

Richard Miles and Reg Mead made the discovery, which included gold and silver ingots and jewellery, in a field in Grouville, Jersey, in 2012.

However, they said there was confusion at the time over how to report their find - now dubbed Le Câtillon II - because there was no statute in place.

The proposed Heritage Law, brought forward by Government of Jersey, will provide more clarity, the hoard finders said.

Coin hoards, metallic objects more than 300 years old and made of at least 10% gold or silver, and groups of prehistoric metal objects, are among the archaeological finds classed as treasure by the UK's 1996 Treasure Act.

Jersey has no similar rules in place, which was highlighted by their find, said Mr Miles.

Under the new Heritage Law, any find more than 50% gold and silver, that has been hidden with the intention of returning, and has no known heirs, is declared treasure.

It must be reported to Jersey Heritage within 14 days and the eventual price will be based on expert advice and linked to the object's market value.

Richard Miles, left, and Reg Mead, right; discoverers of the Le Câtillon II hoard

Mr Miles said: "My view is that the law is actually really good. It follows very closely what the best practice in the UK is.

"It looks after the finders, the landowners, it takes into consideration the Crown and heritage bodies, so really it's a win-win-win situation for everybody and is very fair."

To read the complete article, see:
Coin hoard finders 'pleased' with draft treasure law (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn02rng5495o)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
JERSEY GROUVILLE HOARD BEING DISMANTLED (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n35a32.html)
JERSEY GROUVILLE HOARD WAS TWO COLLECTIONS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n12a24.html)
JERSEY COIN HOARD FINDERS AWAITING REWARD (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n14a25.html)
CORRECTIONS: GROUVILLE HOARD DETAILS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n07a13.html)
DR. STAHL VISITS JERSEY COIN HOARD (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n21a21.html)

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