When she got to the coroner’s office, she told him she had misplaced it. It was lost. The Ludlow Museum was willing to pay her £3,000 for letting go of the treasure, but there was no treasure to barter.
The little piece of European history did not fall into the hands of Ludlow Museum. It was officially missing.
Ms. Harding's Trial Started at the Coroner's Office
After Ludlow Museum staff informed Anthony Sibcy, the coroner for South Shropshire, of Ms. Harding’s find, the case against her was put into motion. The coroner reported her refusal to hand over the piedfort to the police. When she got to court, she faced a fine, three months in jail, or both.
At long last, on February of 2010, Ms. Harding walked free. The court discharged her case with the condition of paying £25 of the total £300 cost of her trial. In the end, however, the court decided she did not have the legal right to the piedfort.
Tying up Loose Ends
Ms. Harding did what she was supposed to do in the first place. She went to the South Shropshire coroner’s office and paid him a visit. But it was not the type of visit he was expecting.
There was a little surprise up her sleeve.
Ms. Harding Received a Swell of Support from the British Public
Many people were outraged at authorities for handing this poor girls’ case so abruptly. It was a delicate situation and it was handled by earth movers. “Since when did museums become law enforcers?” some people complained.
“I too would ignore threatening letters from a bunch of ‘collectors,’” others declared. Ms. Harding appreciated the support.
Some People Were Outraged
Other British subjects were offended such a lawsuit went forward in the first place.
“They took this woman to court over a coin! This is ridiculous! I’m all for preserving English heritage, but quite rightly this is her property. . .”