Bulgarian Prosecution prevented the sale of a unique silver Byzantine plate allegedly found in Bulgaria.

Christie's auction house offered the plate for sale in the beginning of the week. Bulgaria claims that the plate was found in 1999 by treasure hunters and exported illegally from the country.

Auction house representatives said that the plate belonged to an old collector who inherited it in the 50's. It was re-sold several times until it reached the auction house, Darik Radio reported.

Bulgaria demanded the cancellation of the auction and a UK court finally issued such order.

The distrain order will be presented to Christie's on November 9 2006 and the auction will be cancelled.

The plate would either be seized by the police or will stay in Christie's but the auction house will be deprived of the right to sell it.

A Bulgarian treasure hunter claimed that he had found the plate in 1999, Darik said. The treasure hunter said that he sold the plate to a dealer convinced that the plate would be submitted to the National Museum of History. He said that he wanted the plate returned to Bulgaria.