Announcements (Archive)

Treasure Valuation Committee - Board Member

Body
Treasure Valuation Committee
Appointing Department
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Sector
Culture, Media & Sport
Location
London - Meetings are held at the British Museum, as most declared Treasure finds are in the Museum’s safekeeping during the valuation and reward process.
Skills required
Business / Commercial, Legal / Judicial, Regulation
Number of Vacancies
1
Remuneration
The post is not salaried, but reasonable travel and subsistence is paid.
Time Requirements
7-8 Committee meetings a year plus additional time to study papers, exchange opinions with other members by email and telephone etc. The average time commitment is likely to be 2 days per month.

Campaign Timeline

  1. Competition Launched

    27/01/2020

  2. Closed for Applications

    09/03/2020 at 10:00

  3. Panel Sift

    25/03/2020

  4. Final Interview Date

    26/05/2020

  5. Announcement

    11/08/2020

Announcement

An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.

Professor Roger Bland and Dr Megan Gooch have been appointed by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as Chair and Member respectively of the Treasure Valuation Committee for five years from 6 August 2020 to 5 August 2025. Lucinda Orr has been appointed by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as a Member of the Treasure Valuation Committee for five years from 21 October 2020 to 20 October 2025.

Date: 11/08/2020

View Announcement

Assessment Panel

Panel Member
Helen Whitehouse
Added
27/01/2020
Panel Role
Panel Chair
Positions
Deputy Director, Museums and Cultural Property at DCMS Departmental Official
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Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
Christopher Martin
Added
27/01/2020
Positions
Treasure Valuation Committee Member Representative of Organisation
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Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
Alan Coppin
Added
27/01/2020
Positions
Senior Independent Panel Member
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Political Activity-
Notes-

Vacancy Description

Treasure Valuation Committee

The Treasure Valuation Committee provides independent advice to the Secretary of State on the fair market value of declared Treasure finds from England, Wales and Northern Ireland which museums wish to acquire.  Its membership comprises experts on the range of antiquities submitted for valuation, on museums and their collections, and on the law relating to antiquities. In addition, the membership includes an individual drawn from those who represent the interests of finders.

Role of the Committee

The role of the Treasure Valuation Committee is set out in the Treasure Act 1996 Code of Practice as follows:

  • 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;
  • 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;
  • to provide advice to the Secretary of State as to whether the finder of a Treasure case was an archaeologist (or a person engaged on an archaeological excavation or investigation) or not;
  • to issue guidance from time to time on the valuation of finds, which valuers and interested parties should take account of.

Person Specification

All candidates should be able to demonstrate:

  • Knowledge of Early Medieval, Medieval and Post-Medieval coins found in Britain; 
  • A general understanding of Treasure issues and appreciation of the need to be seen to act within the spirit as well as the letter of the law; 
  • An ability to assess objectively the value of Treasure finds; and
  • Experience of working as a member of a committee or in a similar collegiate situation.

Desirable expertise and qualifications for this post:

  • Experience with the commercial market for Medieval and Post-Medieval coins; 
  • A general knowledge of other British artefacts from the Early Medieval to Post-Medieval periods; and
  • Membership of a relevant trade association or relevant academic qualifications or experience.

Additional Information

Committee Members

  • Professor Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn. Chair. Senior Fellow of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research (steps down May 2020);
  • Ms Marian Campbell, Former Senior Curator of Metalwork at the Victoria and Albert Museum;
  • Mr Christopher Martin, Proprietor and Managing director of CJ Martin Coins and Ancient Art, Ltd., and St. James Ancient Art. Chairman of British Numismatic Trade Association and Antiquities Dealers Association;
  • Professor Roger Bland, OBE, Former Keeper of Department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory at British Museum. President of the British Numismatic Society and Vice-President of the Royal Numismatic Society;
  • Ms Hetty Gleave, Partner at Hunter’s Solicitors and an expert in Cultural Property Law;
  • Ms Harry Bain, Editor of The Searcher magazine; finders’ representative;
  • Ms Gail Boyle, Senior Curator at Bristol City Museum, Chair of the Society of Museum Archaeologists.

Term of Appointment:

Normally 5 years.

How to Apply

To apply, please send:

  • A CV of not more than two sides of A4;
  • A supporting statement of not more than three sides of A4, providing examples and setting out how you meet the criteria;
  • The two Monitoring Forms concerning your personal information and political activity, and the Declaration of Interests Form.

Completed applications should be emailed to: publicappointments@culture.gov.uk

Please put ‘Treasure Valuation Committee – Chair’ in the Subject line.

Alternatively, please send applications to:

James Emberley, Public Appointments Campaign Manager, Public Appointments Team, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 4th Floor, 100 Parliament Street, London, SW1A 2BQ.

If you have any questions about the appointment process please contact the DCMS Public Appointments Team at publicappointments@culture.gov.uk

If you have any questions about the role please contact Rosie Weetch, DCMS Head of Cultural Property – Collections at rosie.weetch@culture.gov.uk