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Anglo-Saxon gold is worth £3.285m Anglo-Saxon gold is worth £3.285m
(30 minutes later)
A haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure recently unearthed in Staffordshire has been valued at £3.285m.A haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure recently unearthed in Staffordshire has been valued at £3.285m.
The money will be split between metal detector enthusiast Terry Herbert, who found the hoard, and Fred Johnson, who owns the farm where it was discovered.The money will be split between metal detector enthusiast Terry Herbert, who found the hoard, and Fred Johnson, who owns the farm where it was discovered.
The hoard, which is thought to date back to the 7th Century, comprises 1,600 items including sword pommels, helmet parts and processional crosses. Mr Johnson said he had has not made any plans for the money but did not think he would be leaving his farm.
The value was set by a committee of experts which met on Wednesday. The value of the 7th century hoard was set by a committee of experts which met on Wednesday.
The hoard was discovered by 55-year-old metal detecting enthusiast Terry Herbert, of Burntwood, in Staffordshire, in July. It comprises 1,600 items including sword pommels, helmet parts and processional crosses.
The gold was discovered by 55-year-old Mr Herbert, of Burntwood, in Staffordshire, in July.
It is of course immensely important that this extraordinary hoard is acquired for public benefit Professor Norman PalmerIt is of course immensely important that this extraordinary hoard is acquired for public benefit Professor Norman Palmer
He found it on land owned by farmer Fred Johnson, who said had not decided how to spend the money yet. He found it on land owned by Mr Johnson, who said he had not decided how to spend the money yet.
"I'm not coming to any quick decisions," he said."I'm not coming to any quick decisions," he said.
"It's been in the ground for thousands of years, [the decision making] can wait a bit longer." He said he had not been told when he will be paid the money and had no plans to move.
He said he had not been told when he will be paid the money. "I think I will probably stay around here.
"I have already wound down the operations, you can't do everything you used to be able to in your sixties."
He added he was confident there was nothing else to be found on his fields.
'Fair price'
"I am confident there's nothing else there now.
"But then again I was sure there wasn't anything there in the first place - so who knows?" he said.
Members of the Bloxwich Research and Metal Detecting Club, of which Terry Herbert is a member, had estimated in advance the gold would be worth around £3m.Members of the Bloxwich Research and Metal Detecting Club, of which Terry Herbert is a member, had estimated in advance the gold would be worth around £3m.
Secretary Jim Wall described the final figure of £3.8m as "very nice". Secretary Jim Wall described the final figure of £3.285m as "very nice".
He added: "The boy has done very well, it's a once in a million lifetime chance isn't it?He added: "The boy has done very well, it's a once in a million lifetime chance isn't it?
"The right time, the right place.""The right time, the right place."
The price was set by eight members of the treasure valuation committee, who are all dealers and experts in their fields. The final price for the hoard was set by eight dealers and experts on the treasure valuation committee.
This gold strip with a Biblical inscription is one of 1,500 items in the hoard.This gold strip with a Biblical inscription is one of 1,500 items in the hoard.
Chairman Professor Norman Palmer CBE said the committee had to analyse a very large amount of information in order to arrive at the price, which he described as "a fair market price".Chairman Professor Norman Palmer CBE said the committee had to analyse a very large amount of information in order to arrive at the price, which he described as "a fair market price".
He said: "It is of course immensely important that this extraordinary hoard is acquired for public benefit."He said: "It is of course immensely important that this extraordinary hoard is acquired for public benefit."
Now a fundraising campaign to bring the hoard back to the West Midlands has been launched.Now a fundraising campaign to bring the hoard back to the West Midlands has been launched.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent are both hoping to buy the treasure from the Crown.Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent are both hoping to buy the treasure from the Crown.
Part of the hoard is currently on display at the British Museum in London. Councillor Martin Mullaney, Birmingham City Council's cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture said talks were already taking place with potential funders to help them buy it.
"Over 42,000 people saw the treasure when it was displayed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in September, and thanks to the generosity of the public we have already raised almost £40,000 towards the fundraising total," he said.
Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent city councils hope to acquire the treasure jointly, and have been given four months to raise the funds.
An book on the gold hoard has been produced, with a £1 donation from each sale going to the Hoard Appeal.
Part of the collection is on display at the British Museum in London.
It is due to move to the Potteries Museum for a temporary exhibition in the New Year.It is due to move to the Potteries Museum for a temporary exhibition in the New Year.