Detectorists stole Viking hoard that 'rewrites history'

[Imperial Dave]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-50461860

2 key themes here:

- unscrupulous detectorists
- historical impact of the find

[Erpingham]

Don't forget the "coin dealers" (aka fences), without whom the theft would have been more difficult.  I've known a few coin collectors and I feel sorry for them attempting to build a legitimate collection at times like this.

[Imperial Dave]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-50516329

blimey.....very stiff sentences

[Duncan Head]

Sentences possibly aggravated by the belief that they must have known where the missing coins are - as suggested at the end of https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/21/detectorists-hid-find-that-rewrites-anglo-saxon-history

[Chuck the Grey]

I have to admit that the length of the sentences was a bit surprising, but as Duncan said a lack of cooperation in the recovery of the missing coins was probably a factor.

I would also suggest that this probably isn't the first time the men have looted a discovery in part or fully. This time the size of the horde made concealment difficult if not impossible.

[Nick Harbud]

Not quite sure what they received for the stuff that has not been recovered, but whatever it is might be taken off them as a result of the Proceeeds of Crime case due to start next year.

If they had declared the hoard, they could now be sharing approximately £1.5 million instead of a prison cell.