A TREASURE inquest will be held next month following the discovery of a group of silver 'voided' medieval coins in Marbury.
The discovery was made on Thursday, June 4 2020, and the inquest will be held on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at Warrington Coroners Court.
The standard coin of most common everyday use in England from Anglo-Saxon times, in the late Medieval Period the 'long cross' silver penny was issued from 1279-1489, a period of around 210 years, through 11 reigns from King Edward I (1272-1307) until King Henry VII (1485-1509).
A voided cross when referring to coins is a cross drawn in outline with a 'void' between and open ends.
If a museum wishes to acquire a find of potential treasure, the coroner must hold an inquest to determine whether the find constitutes treasure and to determine the facts in the case – who found what, where and when.
If the coroner finds the items to be treasure, that means that the Crown is formally regarded as the owner of the items.
If it is declared to be treasure then the finder must offer the item for sale to a museum at a price set by an independent board of antiquities experts known as the Treasure Valuation Committee.
Only if a museum expresses no interest in the item, or is unable to purchase it, can the finder retain it.
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