Coroners Treasure and Treasure Trove
There was a 19% increase in Treasure finds reported in 2025 and a 27% increase in inquest conclusions on finds
The annual publication presents statistics of deaths reported to Coroners in England and Wales in 2025. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coroners-statistics-2025/coroners-statistics-2025-england-and-wales
1,621 finds were reported to coroners in 2025, an increase of 258 on 2024. 635 inquests were concluded into finds. Of these, 97% (614) returned a conclusion of treasure, a decrease in proportion by two percentage points when compared with 2024.
The Government introduced a new and expanded definition of treasure from July 2023 which includes a “significance-based” class of treasure, rather than being based solely on material composition and age.
In 2025, 1,621 finds were reported and 635 inquests were concluded. Separately, there were no inquests held into Treasure Trove in 2025 (Tresure Trove relates to finds made before the Treasure Act 1996 came into force).
The number of finds reported has been steadily increasing since the commencement of the 1996 Act in September 1997, from 54 finds in 1997 to 1,059 in 2017. Between 2018 and 2020, however, the number was more volatile. Since 2021, the number has been rising again. In 2025, the number of finds rose to the highest level in the time series at 1,621, from 1,363 in 2024 (up 19%). The number of treasure inquest conclusions increased by 27% (from 500 in 2024 to 635 in 2025).
Of the 635 inquests concluded in 2025, 97% (614) returned a conclusion of treasure, a decrease in proportion by two percentage points compared to 2024.
The number of finds and inquests held varies greatly across the country, which is likely due to geographical and historical differences between areas. In 2025, 12 coroner areas had no treasure finds reported to them, whilst Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton had the highest number of treasure finds at 172.
Private GP in London and expert for medical legal reports and qualified Medical Examiner RCPathME
Dr Martin Harris