A Woman Found a 700 Year Old Coin as a Kid, and Authorities Decided She Had to be Arrested
One of the things you never expect to find when you go working in a garden is a 700-year-old coin that can get you in trouble 14 years in the future, and yet fate decided that this was exactly what had to happen to a little girl of only 9 years old.
Kate Harding, a British citizen who is the protagonist of this story, had decided to go help her mother with some labors in the garden when she was only 9 years old, it was at that time that during work, the little girl found what seemed to be an old silver coin, she saved it and never talked about it until a few months later after her mother died.
Harding, with 23 years old this time, approached museum experts trying to get an understanding of the history behind the coin she found when she was just a little kid, it turned out, the item wasn’t exactly a coin, but something similar, a piedfort to be more precise.
And even though, many people could argue that the look of a piedfort is very similar to the look of a coin, there is a difference between them, a piedfort is generally thicker and weights approximately twice than a coin, plus it is also believed that such item was never used as currency.
But, if piedforts weren’t used as currency, how were they used? Well, it is believed they were used as guides for mint workers and as reckoning counters for officials, however, the particular piedfort young Kate Harding showed to museum experts, was a representative object marking Charles IV’s ascension to the French throne in 1322.!
Due to this reason, Mrs. Harding was requested to inform about the ancient treasure to a local coroner, this way after a proper examination, the museum would be able to buy the item and everyone would be happy, but after a couple of weeks Harding decided not to do such thing and continued with her life.
Unfortunately for her, the treasure act of 1996 claimed that any object older than 300 years old and with at least 10 percent of precious metal content had to be reported to a local coroner in a period of 14 days, failing to carry out such duty would be considered as a criminal offense.
And so, because of not wanting to report the treasure, Mrs. Harding was arrested and prosecuted as a lawbreaker, She faced up to three months in jail and a fine, but walked free from court when her lawyer claimed that she didn’t report the treasure because of disorganization and because it had a sentimental value to her.
In the end, the young woman was set free under a conditional discharge and had to pay £25 to continue with her life.
As for the museum, the so wanted piedfort never made it into their facilities, in fact, when Mrs. Harding decided to speak with the local coroner, she said she had lost the item, and so because of that authorities stopped harassing her.
Of having sold the piedfort, Mrs. Harding would’ve been rewarded with £2000, but as far as we know, she probably still keeps it as it is of great sentimental value for her.
Now tell us, what would you do if you find something similar? would you report it to any museum?
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