Dorset Museum raising funds to keep important artefacts in the county
They want to retain two rare archaeological finds for future generations
Dorset Museum is looking to raise funds to keep two important historical finds in the county.
The archaeological hoards were both found by metal detectorists in Dorset, and the Museum wants to add them to their existing collections.
The first is a group of 40 gold stater Iron Age coins, found at Charlton Marshall near Blandford, which date back to the 2nd century AD.
They've been valued at ÂŁ15,300 and Dorset Museum & Art Gallery has already raised ÂŁ8,682 towards the purchase, so they need to raise an additional ÂŁ6,618. |newtab)
The second hoard is from the Middle Bronze Age and was found in Stalbridge, containing a palstave axe head, a bangle with incised decoration and a rapier sword.
That set has been valued at ÂŁ17,000 and ÂŁ9,075 has so far been raised towards the purchase, leaving an additional ÂŁ7,925 left to raise. |newtab)
Elizabeth Selby, Director of Collections and Public Engagement at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery said:
"These are important and unusual hoards, and if the Museum is not able to acquire them, it is likely that the groups will be broken up and sold outside of the county. This will mean that all possibility of further research on the hoards, or opportunities for them to be displayed together, will be lost."