Cornwall Street's Tim Sapwell was recently instructed in unusual circumstances in the first criminal prosecution brought under the Treasure Act 1996.  The case concerned a French medieval silver "Piedfort", a coin-like object, the purpose of which is a matter of some debate amongst experts.  The Defendant had taken it to a museum for identification and was told that it should be reported to the Coroner as potential treasure.  She failed to do so and was duly prosecuted. The case attracted national media interest, not only because it was the first conviction under the Act, but also because the prosecution was widely felt to have been rather heavy-handed.  After reading about the case in the press, Tim contacted the Defendant's solicitor to say that in his opinion, the mitigation advanced upon her behalf actually provided a valid defence in law to the charge: she had apparently found the object before the Treasure Act was passed.  Tim, who originally qualified as an archaeologist, was duly instructed to advise formally and draft skeleton arguments, as a result of which the conviction was successfully overturned.  The Prosecution then abandoned the case.