Frome Hoard Saved

The National Heritage Memorial Fund (with the Art Fund) has announced that it has saved the Frome Hoard for the nation.

The Museum of Somerset takes possession of the £320,250 Frome Hoard and further funds of over £100,000 towards its conservation following the announcement of a £294,026 grant from the NHMF. The good news follows an intensive fundraising campaign kick-started by the Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for works of art, with a grant of £40,250, to help raise the funds needed for the extraordinary find of over 52,000 silver and bronze coins found last year by metal-detectorist Dave Crisp. Members of the public generously donated £13,657 towards the appeal, which the Art Fund match-funded with a further £10,000. The acquisition was also made possible thanks to funding from the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Headley Trust and other generous donations.

I note that Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of NHMF, noted the way that the Frome Hoard "provide[s] true insight into Britain’s rich and diverse history". The Hoard was reported in a timely and responsible manner but this is not apparently typical of all treasure hunters.