A ROMAN wine dipper and a 7th century coin are among the hundreds of objects handed in as treasure in the past year.

A total of 265 people reported objects to the Treasure Trove Unit between April 1, 2013 and March 31 this year.

Museums across Scotland were allocated 825 objects found by the public.

There were also 22 collections from digs by professional archaeologists, four of which attracted no interest from museums and were returned to the excavators.

The items found included a gold Merovingian tremissis coin at Coldstream in the Borders.

Such coins were in use across England, but finding one in Scotland is highly unusual and this was the first of its type to be located north of the border.

A Roman wine dipper was discovered at Hawick in the Borders, while an Iron Age strap mount, which would have decorated a horse and chariot, was found at Dunbar in East Lothian.

Other finds included a medieval silver crucifix at Loch Leven in Perth and Kinross, and a 16th-century gold finger ring decorated with white enamel found at Roslin in Midlothian.

Catherine Dyer, the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (QLTR), said: "The report confirms that this has been another magnificent year with some outstanding finds being reported, preserved and displayed in museum collections around Scotland.

"I would like to praise the dedicated work of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel, the National Museums of Scotland, the Treasure Trove Unit and the QLTR office.

"Thanks should also be given to the hundreds of members of the public who report their finds."