The British Museum says a massive haul of Anglo-Saxon gold found this summer by an unemployed amateur treasure-hunter has been valued at 3.285 million pounds ($5.435 million).

The discovery of the hoard of gold and silver artifacts in a field in Staffordshire in central England sent a thrill through Britain's archaeological community. The 1,500-piece haul is the largest set of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found.

Any institution seeking to acquire the hoard would have to pay the money to the finder and the owner of the field in which it was found.

Two museums in central England said Thursday they hope to acquire the treasure jointly. The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent are raising funds to buy it.