A LUDLOW woman who failed to hand over a centuries- old coin she found in her garden has made legal history.

Kate Harding, aged 23, of The Hawthorns, failed to notify the coroner after discovering a rare piedfort, a silver coin-like artefact dating from the 1300s.

She is thought to be the first person in the country to be successfully prosecuted for the failure under the Treasure Act.

She took the artefact to Ludlow Museum in January for identification and recording with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, saying she had found the item in her garden.

Peter Reavill, finds liaison officer for Herefordshire and Shropshire, examined the find and, once it had been identified by experts at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the British Museum, correctly informed her that she had a legal obligation to report the find to the coroner under Section 8 of the Treasure Act 1996.

Despite repeated attempts to contact her by both Mr Reavill and the coroner, she failed to report the discovery.

The Coroner for South Shropshire, Anthony Sibcy, contacted the police in April.

West Mercia Police conducted an investigation in conjunction with experts at the Portable Antiquities Scheme, the British Museum and the Metropolitan Police’s specialist Art and Antiques Unit.

In court last week, Harding admitted the offence and was ordered to hand over the piedfort, was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £25 court costs.

Dr Michael Lewis, deputy head of the department of portable antiquities and treasure at the British Museum, confirmed that the case was the first of its kind in the country to have resulted in a prosecution.

“This is a landmark case and it sends a clear message to those who fail to report treasure,”

said Dr Lewis.

“However, we are delighted that the artefact, which has great historical significance, has now been handed over under the instruction of the magistrates.