The landmark case of a Shropshire woman who was convicted of failing to report finding treasure – a silver coin dating from the 1300s which she had owned since childhood – is to be reviewed by Ludlow magistrates.

Kate Harding, 23, had admitted failing to notify the coroner after the coin was identified as a rare 14th century piedfort.

In February magistrates ordered the coin to be handed over and Harding was given a conditional discharge and told to pay £25 towards the £300 court costs.

Harding, of The Hawthorns, Ludlow, had failed to report the find to the south Shropshire coroner within 14 days under the 1996 Treasure Act.

However, at a recent hearing at Telford Magistrates Court, solicitor Brendan Reedy successfully applied for the case to be reconsidered by Ludlow magistrates on May 26.

Value

Mr Reedy said that it was believed the discovery of the coin pre-dated the 1996 Treasure Act under which a person who finds an object they believe is treasure must notify the coroner.

At the original hearing the magistrates heard that Harding had been given the coin by her mother when she was just nine years old and her mother had died soon afterwards. The artefact, found in a garden in Tenbury Wells years ago, was said to be of great sentimental value to the defendant.

Mr Rob Edwards, prosecuting, said that Harding visited Ludlow Museum in January 2009 with the artefact and spoke to expert, Peter Reavill.

After establishing what it was Mr Reavill wrote to Harding and told her she must report the find to the coroner within 14 days under the 1996 Treasure Act.

The court heard Harding failed to respond to calls and missed several appointments to meet Mr Reavill. He informed the coroner who in turn called the police.

Mr Edwards said that during a police interview a year ago, Harding said she did not know why she had not reported it and that she had a lot going on in her life.

By Arthur Mills