Key people in the Treasure process

The Treasure Valuation Committee

The Treasure Valuation Committee meets at the British Museum because that is where treasure finds are held for safe keeping during valuation. The Committee is however independent from the Museum and its members are unpaid.

The Committee's terms of reference are to recommend to the Secretary of State valuations for the items brought before it which correspond as closely as possible, taking account of all relevant factors, to what may be paid for the object(s) in a sale on the open market between a willing seller and a willing buyer; and to provide advice to the Secretary of State in cases where there may be grounds for either no reward to be paid to the finder, or for a reduced reward to be paid, or where there is a dispute as to the apportionment of the reward between the finder and the occupier/owner of the land or between the occupier and a person having a superior interest.

The Committee is made up of individuals who have been appointed either because of their knowledge and experience in antiquities and/or because they represent a group particularly involved with Treasure finds. Those that sit on the panel are:

Professor Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn. Chairman. Senior Fellow of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.
Dr David Dykes, former Head of the National Museum of Wales, member of the British Numismatic Society since 1954, expert on medieval coins.
Mr John Cherry, Former Keeper of Medieval and Later Antiquities at the British Museum; Expert on Medieval artefacts
Mr Peter Clayton, Long-standing consultant for Seaby Antiquities, writer and lecturer; expert on ancient archaeological artefacts.
Dr Tim Pestell, Keeper of Archaeology at Norwich Castle Museum
Professor Ian Carradice, formerly of University of St Andrews; expert on Roman coins
Ms Hetty Gleave, Partner at Hunter's Solicitors and an expert in Cultural Property Law

The Committee's Secreatriat maintains a register of the Committee members' interests which is updated periodically. For access to this information, please contact the Department of Portable Antiquities & Treasure at the British Museum at treasure@britishmuseum.org or by phoning 020 7323 8611.

The Provisional Valuers

Provisional Valuers are independent expert advisers and the Treasure Valuation Committee request their advice in report format in order to ensure the widest possible confidence in treasure valuations. We currently request advice from: