A SELECT group of treasure hunters and landowners across Oxfordshire could be in for a payday after five artefacts were classified as “treasure”.

Parts of silver Anglo-Saxon brooch more than 1,300 years old, and a medieval gold ring dating back to the 14th century, were among items found in the county declared as treasure at an inquest on Thursday.

A post-medieval silver thimble was found in Moulsford.

A 500-year-old gold ring was found in Lewknor, and a Piedfort – a kind of coin – minted in the 13th century, was found in Filkins, near the Oxfordshire-Gloucestershire border.

The ruling, made at Oxford Coroner’s Court, means items effectively belong to the public and are likely to be put on display.

If bought by a museum the money would be split between the finder and landowner.

Finds liaison officer for Oxfordshire County Council Anni Byard said the items went to an inquest because the council’s museum expressed an interest.

She said: “The museum expressed an interest in acquiring them and now the finds will go to a treasure valuation committee at the British Museum, a panel of experts and auctioneers.

“They will put a creative market value on the objects, which is normally split between the person who found it and the landowner.”

Miss Byard said the medieval gold ring found in Clifton Hampden in October 2013 was the most eye-catching.

The ring has a large D-shaped bezel set with a dark-coloured gemstone, and dates back to the 1300s.

She said: “It’s got a large stone and for it to be complete with the stone in the bezel is unusual.

“It was found in ploughed soil as well and dates back to the second half of the 14th century – it’s a lovely object.”

If an object is composed of greater than 10 per cent precious metal – and is more than 300 years old – it could potentially be treasure, according to the Treasure Act 1996.

Another object of note, the oldest of the lot, was the silver brooch found in East Hendred near Wantage.

Discovered in June last year, the two fragments of the brooch date back to the 7th century. It would have been worn by someone in high society.

Miss Byard said: “It would have been worn by someone of quite high status.

“It would have been broken in two in recent years, probably as the land was ploughed.

“The finders said the two pieces were only several feet apart.”

The fragments join together and – they comprise approximately a quarter of the original brooch.

The outer rim of both fragments is decorated with a single row of punched decorations around the edge.

A report on the artefact found the fragments were from a garnet disc brooch associated with Kent and described it as a particularly “Kentish” form of dress accessory.