What happens when a find is claimed as treasure trove?

  1. Finds are deposited with Treasure Trove Unit (TTU) at the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh by the finder or via a local museums curator or by another third party.
  2. Finds are then assessed for Treasure Trove purposes.
  3. When a find is suitable for claiming under the laws of bona vacantia / treasure trove, the finder will be informed by the TTU.
  4. Finders will receive a report on the find and a digital photograph for their own records. They will also be informed of the date of the next meeting at which the Panel will consider the find.
  5. The case information is then passed to the QLTR department at the Crown Office. There will normally be no further correspondence with the finder by the TTU.
  6. The QLTR department will write to the finder to advise them that the QLTR accepts the recommendation to claim the find. All further correspondence with the finder will come directly from the QLTR department.
  7. At its next meeting the Panel will recommend to the QLTR:
    i) a reward for the find based on current market value where appropriate (rewards do not apply to finds from organised fieldwork, including excavation)
    ii) the most appropriate museum to be allocated the find.
  8. Following the Panel meeting, the TTU will contact all museums which have bid for finds to advise them of the Panel's recommendations. Museums then have 14 days in which to accept or reject the proposed allocation and reward for the finds they have bid for.
  9. At the end of the 14 day period, the TTU will notify the QLTR of the Panel's recommendations.
  10. If the QLTR accepts the Panel's recommendation the finder will receive a letter informing them of the amount of any reward being paid and the name of the museum which will house find.
  11. The QLTR department will then write to the museum which has been allocated the find and request payment for the finder's reward. Finders can waive a reward thereby saving a museum the purchase price of the find.
  12. In some cases, the QLTR or the Panel may need to postpone a case until further information is sought. This can occur when more than one museum is competing for a find or when an object is rare or unusual and specialist advice or analyses are required.
  13. The majority of cases will proceed without delays and the finder will be sent a cheque for the reward after the recipient museum has paid this to the Crown Office.
  14. The entire process is normally completed within 12 months from the date of claiming the object.

Treasure Trove Unit, National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF