A Brit Housewife’s Treasure Hunting!

By Staff

Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 15:08

A British housewife has become successful in the treasure hunting that she had performed during a regular six-hour Sunday detecting walks. Mary Hannaby, from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire discovered a 15th-century gold treasure depicting the Holy Trinity worth 250,000 pounds – using a metal detector. She discovered the treasure along with her son , a 33 year-old wood carver.

The treasure had been buried four inches below the ground for around 500 years - between Ashridge and Great Gaddesden. The mother and son always dreamt of finding the treasure and they are all excited at their discovery.

Under the Treasure Act of 1996, finders must report potential treasure such as gold and silver objects more than 300 years old. Finders are offered the market value for their discoveries, which museums have first option to buy. Roger Bland, head of treasure at the British Museum who thinks that the object, which at 2.8cm by 2.3cm is barely larger than a postage stamp, is an "important find" regrets the museum is short of funds to buy it. Apparently, it is one of only three of its kind to have survived, and could be worth even more than 250,000 pounds.