Coroner's ruling over Becket medallion find

3:02am Thursday 31st January 2008

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A TINY medallion that has become the centre of an ownership dispute hundreds of years after it was last worn has been declared treasure by a coroner.

The British Museum will have the last word on the oval silver seal matrix dating from about the 14th Century found in North Yorkshire and believed to be worth an undisclosed five-figure sum.

The medallion depicts the murder of Thomas Becket, with the figures of three knights, and bears a Latin inscription around the edges.

A museum has expressed an interest in buying it.

An inquest in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was told yesterday that the medallion was unearthed by a metal detecting enthusiast in October 2006 on land owned by farmer John Wray, in the Catterick area.

It emerged that Mr Wray did not learn the full significance of the discovery until February last year, a month after an article appeared in an enthusiasts' magazine describing it as being of national importance.

Mr Wray told coroner Geoff Fell that he gave permission to Carl Richardson, of Coxhoe, County Durham, to hunt on his land four years ago.

After the medallion was found, he was visited by Richard Hunter, who claimed to have been present when Mr Richardson made the discovery.

Mr Wray said: "I was told I might get half and Mr Hunter and Mr Richardson expected to get a share.''

Mr Hunter, of Peterlee, County Durham, said he had been out four or five times with Mr Richardson.

He said: "We had a gentleman's agreement that whatever we found, we would go half with the farmer and split the other half."

He said he had no doubt that the medallion was treasure and that Mr Wray should be told, but Mr Richardson wanted more information about its value and authenticity.

An expert in valuations at Malton was consulted and an internet inquiry gave a conservative estimate of between £2,000 and £3,000.

Mr Hunter said: "Mr Richardson wanted no one to know where it was found. I got the impression he did not want to share with the farmer, and did not want to share with me either."

Mr Richardson did not attend the inquest, but in a statement he denied that Mr Hunter was present. He said it was not until he got home and washed the medallion that he realised its significance.

He tried to contact Mr Wray, but he was away for three weeks.

Mr Fell said he had no power to decide ownership, but evidence would be sent to the British Museum, which would value the medallion and share the proceeds among those with an interest.

"It's not up to me to decide ownership," he said. "If you cannot come to an agreement, then lawyers may have to be involved and that will be costly.''

Mr Wray said after the inquest: "It is a big shame there is conflict on such a lovely find."