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Tuesday, 19th December 2006 (2102 views)

The British Museum has managed to hold on to several treasures which could have left the UK, after the temporary export bar scheme saved artefacts worth £8.3 million.

Several of the items, including a starred Anglo-Saxon gold coin of King Coenwulf of Mercia, purchased by the British Museum for £357,832, have been saved for the nation according to the 52nd annual report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest last week.

Some 17 objects had temporary bars placed on them following recommendations from the reviewing committee, allowing them to stay in the country while the museum raised the funds needed to buy them.

Culture minister David Lammy said last week: "It is essential that we provide an opportunity to save these vital pieces of our cultural heritage for the nation.

"These saved items are made available for the public to enjoy, learn from and act as a source of inspiration."

The soaring costs of many artefacts such as the gold coin mean museums often struggle to meet the costs of buying them straight away. However, the temporary bars mean they have added time to find the funding and keep the treasures available for the public to see.

 

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