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Appendix G: Standard letter from QLTR to finder of chance finds when portable antiquity is claimed by the Crown
Dear Finder
TREASURE TROVE - description of find
Thank you for reporting the above find.
I write to inform you that the Crown has exercised its right to claim the item mentioned above as Treasure Trove. The Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel ( SAFAP) will consider museum allocation of the item and any appropriate ex gratia award for the find at its next meeting. If you have any information regarding the value or otherwise of the item, which you wish the Panel to consider, please send it to TTU (Treasure Trove Unit), c/o National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh. Information about what is required regarding value is attached.
When a find is allocated to a Museum, that museum finances the ex gratia award. A finder may choose to forego an ex gratia award and, should you wish to do this, please advise the TTU in writing at the address above.
You will be informed in due course of the decision taken regarding the allocation of the item and any ex gratia award payable.
A list of Finders' names is published in the Annual Report for the year in which the find was reported. I would be grateful if you can let me know in writing if you agree to the inclusion of your name in the list. Please let me know within four weeks of the date of this letter. If I do not hear from you by then, your name will not be included.
Yours sincerely
QLTR Administrator
EX GRATIA PAYMENT FOR TREASURE TROVE OBJECTS
INFORMATION FOR FINDERS
If you have recent verifiable information in support of a valuation for an object which is identical or very similar in type and condition to the one which you have submitted for Treasure Trove, and you wish the Panel to consider this information, you must submit it to the Treasure Trove Unit ( TTU) in advance of the date of the next Panel meeting. This date is given in the 'Notice to Finders of Treasure Trove' letter which has been sent to you by the TTU.
The Unit will then ensure this information is put before the Panel when it is considering the case for an ex gratia payment for your find.
The Treasure Trove Unit must be able to contact the person who gave you the valuation or be able to consult the appropriate catalogue etc, in order to verify the valuation for the Panel.
Verifiable information must include:
The name and business address of the person who has given the valuation along with a copy of their valuation.
If the information has come from an auction house catalogue then full details of the publication must be given including the name of auction house, the date and place of sale, the lot number, the guide price and/or the hammer price.
If the information has come from a dealer's catalogue then the name of the dealer, along with the date of publication of the catalogue and object reference number is required.
Non-verifiable information
Information which has come from an anonymous source will not be considered by the Panel. This would include website sales such as eBay and valuations from any un-named experts or dealers.
Please note that the Crown is not obliged to offer any award for claimed Treasure Trove objects. It will, however, normally do so and may use 'market value' as a guide price. The estimated ex gratia payment may be reduced if an object has been inappropriately handled by the finder including: cleaning which has damaged the object, and/or the application of any waxes and/or varnishes to the object
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