What happens if you find treasure in the UK?

Finds that are not treasure can be recorded voluntarily with the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Scotland has a separate system, under which all ownerless finds must be reported.

Sources: Treasure Act 1996; Portable Antiquities Scheme; Treasure Trove Scotland.

Can I keep treasure if I find it? It depends on where you find it. On private land, finds generally belong to the landowner unless you agree otherwise. On US federal land, archaeological objects over 100 years old cannot be removed without a permit. In England and Wales, finds that legally count as treasure must be reported to the coroner and may be acquired by a museum, with a reward shared between finder and landowner.

What is the biggest metal detecting find ever? Some of the biggest metal detecting finds are in England: the Staffordshire Hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver (2009), the Hoxne Hoard of Roman gold and silver (1992) and the Frome Hoard of about 52,000 Roman coins (2010). In Australia, the Hand of Faith, one of the largest gold nuggets found with a detector, was found near Kingower, Victoria, in 1980.

Is treasure hunting legal? Yes, in most places treasure hunting is legal with permission: on private land with the owner's permission, and on much public land for casual metal detecting and panning. It becomes illegal when you dig in protected sites, remove archaeological objects, detect where it is banned (such as US National Parks), or work someone else's mining claim.