‘One might say that if the law of Treasure has slumbered throughout most of its long history it has now had a rude awakening. Its obscure origins in Anglo-Norman common law had nothing to do with preserving items of cultural interest and probably everything to do with a source of revenue for the Crown, albeit in the past it must have been a very modest and haphazard privilege. In the nineteenth century one can at least trace a growing awareness that it could play a significant role in preserving objects of interest from the past. Nevertheless, as late as 1981 the Court of Appeal was still wrestling with the issue of how high a content of gold or silver was required to bring coins within the scope of the old law of Treasure Trove. The 1996 Act was the first attempt to offer a detailed statutory definition and, just as importantly, for the first time set out a statutory Code of Practice to guide the practical application of the new law.’

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The Institute of Art & Law, 14th April 2023

Source: ial.uk.com