All finds are made subject to the Treasure Act.

NO find over 50 years old, that is man made, can be taken out of the country without a correct export license being issued.

Any attempt to smuggle an artifact or coin out of the country will be liable to imprisonment or a fine or both.

All export applications are now paperless and processed by me using on line documents. All finders get a digital PDF file copy via e-mail of the application and a full finds list with detailed numbered ID's.

See Treasure Act link page

 
Export Licensing Unit
Arts Council England
14 Great Peter Street
London
SW1P 3NQ

'Export Licensing Unit' <ELU@artscouncil.org.uk>

:
020 7973 5188
 

020 7973 6590

There are still people being incorrectly advised on other tours about the export criteria. They state that they are allowed to take home finds that are 300 years or newer and not 50 years old. That is incorrect as the law below clearly states any item over 50 years of age.

Metal detecting finds are covered by Cat 1 and 2 and it is 50 years or older that an export license MUST be obtained before they can be taken out of the country. Below is the relevant extract from the complete export document, click here to view the full on line document from the MLA (export duty) , page 24 MLA

Table 3
OGEL limits for the export of cultural goods

Category of Object OGEL limit
1. Any item over 50 years of age (excluding objects listed in categories 2 - 10 below) £ 65,000
2. Archaeological material found in UK soil or UK territorial waters over 50 years of age £ Zero
3. Manuscripts, documents and archives (excluding printed matter) over 50 years of age £ Zero
4. Architectural, scientific and engineering drawings produced by hand over 50 years of age £ Zero
5. A photographic positive or negative or any assemblage of such photographs over 50 years of age £10,000
6. A textile (excluding carpets and tapestries) over 50 years of age £12,000
7. A portrait or likeness of a British Historical Person over 50 years of age £10,000
8. A firearm over 100 years of age and any other arms or armour £ 35,000
9. A firearm between 50 and 100 years of age4
£ 65,000
10. A painting in oil or tempera (excluding portraits of British Historical Persons) over 50 years of age £180,000

Below is an example of the new larger grid export application format . The finder gets a full MS Word document mailed to them in colour with all his find sheets. These sheets are attached to the normal export licensing application forms which I send of to the Arts Council. Note any man made item over 50 years old must be listed and photographed and cannot leave the UK without an approved export license as detailed below.

1. 1641-3 Charles 1st hammered silver shilling - Triangle in circle mintmark Tower mint under Charles 1st
2. 1561 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver sixpence
3. 1567 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver sixpence
4. 1526-44 Henry VIII hammered silver groat - Arrow mintmark
5. 1279 Edward 1st hammered silver penny - Cross Moline - Class 9a Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS YB Rev CIVI/TAS/DVR/ENE- Durham mint
6. 1341 Edward III hammered silver penny - Cross 3- Florin type Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint
7. 1341 Edward III hammered silver penny - Cross 3- Florin type Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint
8. 1341 Edward III hammered silver penny - - Florin type Obv EDWAR ANGLE DNS HYB
Rev CIVI/TAS/DVN/ELM - Durham mint
9. 1361-69 Edward III hammered silver penny - Cross 2- Treaty Obv EDWARD ANGL R DNS HYB Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint
10. 1272 Edward 1st hammered silver penny - Class 2 Obv EDWR ANGL DNS HYB
Rev CIVI/TAS/EME/DV * - Durham mint - reverse die error
11. 1634 Charles 1st hammered silver penny
12. 1300 Edward 1st hammered silver farthing - New issue with inner circles both sides - Type 28d Obv +EDWARDVS REX A Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON
13. 1464 -70 Edward IV hammered silver halfpenny - Trefoils by neck
Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint
14. 1351-1361 Edward III hammered silver penny - Pre treaty Obv EDWR ANGL DNS HYB
Rev DVR/REM * - Durham mint
15. 1247 Henry III voided long cross hammered silver ¼ penny
16. 1215 Henry III hammered silver half penny
17. 1215 Henry III hammered silver half penny
18. 1634 Charles 1st hammered silver penny
19. 1560-1 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver penny
20. 16thC Elizabeth 1st hammered silver penny

1. Worn hammered silver coin with Apothecary weight emblem
2. 16thC Elizabeth 1st hammered silver half groat
3. Worn hammered silver coin
4. Georgian intaglio – figure with anchor
5. 2ndC Roman Fibular brooch
6. 2ndC Roman Fibular brooch
7. C 1stC AD Celtic drinking vessel spout - face decoration 34.94mm W x 20.63mm L - 27.20g
8. C8thC Saxon gilded pendant
9. 16thC Tudor button
10. 1640's Civil war lead bullet melting bowl
11. Roman hanging pendant
12. 2ndC Roman Fibular brooch
13.18thC toy cannon
16. 2ndC Roman Fibular brooch
17. Medieval spur fragment
18. Medieval pendant with glass stones and gilding remaining
19.18thC Navy silver button
20. Roman minimus Roman bronze coin

1. 1573 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver penny
2. 1560-1 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver penny
3. 17thC Nicolas Mearson of Tewkesbury hammered copper trade farthing
4. 1341 Edward III hammered silver penny florin penny Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint
5. 1158 -1189 AD Henry II hammered silver half penny ' Tealby' cross and crosslet type
6. 1199 King John hammered silver short cross penny Class 5b
7. 1696 William III milled silver sixpence
8. C1351 Edward III hammered gold qtr noble - needs straightening to ID exact type 1.79g
9. 1887 Victoria golden jubilee medallion
10. 19thC whistle
11. 1696 William III milled silver shilling
12. 1831 William IIII milled silver sixpence
13. 1917 George V milled silver shilling
14. 1928 George V milled silver sixpence
15. Royal fusiliers cap badge
16. 2ndC Roman bronze coin - illegible
17. 2ndC Roman bronze coin - illegible
18. Medieval spur rowel
19. 19thC Castle gold foil advertising medallion

1. 1604 James 1st hammered silver penny
2. 1475 Dutch -Karel de Stoute -silver DOUBLE STUIVER
3. 1475 Dutch -Karel de Stoute -silver DOUBLE STUIVER
4. 1554 Mary hammered silver groat
5. 1475 Dutch -Karel de Stoute -silver DOUBLE STUIVER
6. 1912 George V milled silver sixpence
7. 1935 George V milled silver sixpence
8. 1921 George V milled silver sixpence
9. 1279 Edward 1st hammered silver penny- Class 9b Obv EDWR ANGL DNS HYB
Rev VIL/KYNCES/TON - Kingston upon Hull mint
10. 1817 George III milled silver sixpence
11. 1816 George III milled silver sixpence
12. 1634 Charles 1st coin weight - crown C cipher
13. 1728 Portuguese Joao V milled gold - 1/2 Escudo (800 Reis) 0.9170 Gold John V of Portugal
14. Medieval Angle gold coin weight
15. 18thC silver clog fastener - Maker WT WW
16. 18thC toy cannon
17. C10thC Saxon lead coin weight
18. 15thC lead token
19.2ndC Roman bronze coin - illegible
20. 2ndC Roman bronze coin - illegible

The Export process is straight forward.

1. At the end of a guys tour all their finds are bagged into one export pouch with the name and address clearly written on the outside. Every metal find is looked at individually again to ensure none were missed while the hunts are in progress.

2. Any hoard or treasure items are reported directly by Colchestertreasurehunting to the County Coroner or Colchester museum and receipts issued to the finder.

I will export the bulk of a guys' finds and not wait for the completion of a Treasure inquest that could take over a year to complete for treasure or hoard.

4. A completed ID report with pictures per hunter is sent to the Arts council and the finder by e-mail

5. The export license for the 'pouch' is applied for and if approved then the finds can be mailed to the finder by secure postage. If an export license for a particular item is withheld then the finder still owns the item but it cannot be taken out of the country.

6. The finds can also be held over to the hunters next visit here to save postage if required. They can take those finds back in their luggage with the correctly issued export license attached.

7. Here is the link to the Royal mail web site http://www.royalmail.co.uk where you can check on the mailing costs.

We now use International signed for delivery. The final cost will depend on the level of insurance you pick.

If you need further info then mail to exporting@colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk

Getting the export licence.

Unless the find is of National importance then an export license is always granted. Most of the recent Celtic gold finds however exciting and old are not in this class. No previous find has yet been refused export but we have withdrawn two applications due to them being a Nationally important find and the guys donated the find to the museum.

If a treasure or hoard is bought by the museum you still get the full market value, see this link for details on how the valuation is made Treasure valuation process

However in the event that the find is not 'treasure or hoard' but very rare and an export license is not granted the finder still owns the item but it would not be allowed out of the country. In this case the finder can sell the item or leave it for me to happily look after !! or you could also donate it to the local museum.

Simply put don't find one that's too rare and you can get it exported !!