A 77-year-old metal detectorist who attempted to sell a cache of rare ninth-century Anglo-Saxon coins to an undercover officer has been ordered to repay £103,000 in proceeds of crime, highlighting the enduring legal consequences of handling undeclared treasure.
Roger Pilling, from Loveclough in Lancashire, believed he had struck gold when he and co-defendant Craig Best sought to offload 44 historically significant coins to what they thought was a wealthy American collector. Instead, they walked into a meticulously orchestrated police sting operation that ultimately led to their convictions and substantial financial repercussions.
In May 2023, Pilling was sentenced to five years and two months in prison at Durham Crown Court after being found guilty, alongside Best, of conspiring to convert criminal property and possession of criminal property. The coins, valued at £766,000, were never declared as treasure despite legal requirements. On April 24, a confiscation order was issued at Teesside Crown Court requiring Pilling to repay £103,000 within three months — or face an additional 12 months behind bars.
The coins, dating from between 874 CE and 879 CE, are believed to have been buried by a Viking and form part of a much larger undeclared hoard discovered in Leominster, Herefordshire, in 2015. That hoard, known as the Herefordshire or Leominster Hoard, is estimated to be worth millions of pounds. Among the 44 recovered pieces were two exceptionally rare two-headed coins depicting Alfred of Wessex and Ceolwulf II of Mercia — discoveries that have helped reshape understanding of the political alliances of the period, suggesting Ceolwulf was more of an ally or peer to Alfred than a Viking puppet, as previously thought.
Forty-four coins were seized during the sting, but two that Pilling claimed to have broken were never recovered. Sentencing judge James Adkin noted the national importance of the artefacts, stating that had they left the country, they “would have been likely to be lost to this nation for ever.”
The scheme unravelled when Best attempted to sell the coins to a genuine American collector, who promptly alerted UK authorities. Undercover officers posed as the buyer and his associates, leading to Best’s arrest at a Durham hotel with three coins in his possession. Pilling, whom the judge said had acquired the collection from the “black market,” was arrested at his home.
A Legal and Historical Duty Ignored
Under the Treasure Act 1996, finders have a legal obligation to report potential treasure — items over 200 years old with more than 10 per cent precious metal content — to the local coroner. Rewards for declared finds are typically shared between the finder and landowner. By choosing concealment and profit over compliance, Pilling and Best forfeited any legitimate claim and exposed themselves to criminal liability.
Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Proceeds of Crime Division, welcomed the confiscation order:
“Roger Pilling intended to sell these rare and important coins for his own gain. He knew that these coins were stolen treasure and instead of choosing to report a crime, he chose to try and profit from it.”
“The CPS worked with the police to value his criminal benefit from the attempted selling of these rare Anglo-Saxon coins, which should have been given to the Crown. The Confiscation Order set by the Judge reflects all the assets available to the defendants. We will always work to ensure that crime does not pay, and criminals cannot benefit from their ill-gotten gains.”
Four other individuals have already been convicted and jailed for a combined 18 years for their roles in concealing the broader Leominster Hoard, underscoring the scale of the criminal enterprise surrounding this remarkable discovery.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the intersection between metal detecting, heritage protection, and the rule of law. While hobbyists continue to unearth pieces of Britain’s rich history, authorities remain vigilant against those who treat national treasures as personal fortunes. For Pilling, what began as a quest for riches has ended in a significant financial reckoning and the permanent loss of freedom he once enjoyed.