CRUSADER said:savant365 said:CRUSADER said:Newt said:He just had to tell someone about it.
Newt
He would have been stupid not to.
What is the penalty for not turning in "treasure trove" finds? I know it is mandatory to turn them in but just how much trouble do you get into if you decide not to and get caught?
Charlie
Imprisonment of 3 months or a fine of upto £5000. But very few get this punishment, but you can bet they would for a find of this significance (plus the loss of the objects).
My point was not about being caught, it was that:
This is the most significant find since Sutton-hoo in the 1930s. This will take years to piece together the story it tells us of the heart of the Mercian Kingdom & British history as a whole.
If he kept it (remembering some of these items are unknown to exsist anywhere else), he would have to very slowly drip them into the market. The collectors of these would be risking buying 'stolen' goods. Most collectors would want provenance, what would he say. He would get noticed eventually.
He would also never achieve as much as the final valuation for these (because as a hoard they come with a premium, ie historial importance) & therefore would overall risk too much for less money.
If the deal with the farmer is 50%, I'm going to predict he gets at least £5 Million.
Loads of over reasons why it would be stupid not to allow the Museums to study & display these amazing finds.
Over here, the landowner would probably have told the detectorist to get lost(even though it was found on his property). I'm sure this will constitute income also. Maybe, I'm wrong here but it's just my opinion. In the USA, the state it was found in will fight tooth and nail to take it ALL. Ask Mel Fisher. He died shortly after winning his battle with Florida.
Newt