Just a quick note to update a previous post: The Staffordshire Hoard has been “saved” for the British nation, rather than going into private hands, by a government grant.
As I described the situation here, a private citizen found the trove of more than 1,500 gold and silver artifacts, from the 7th Century, last summer, and he and the landowner will split the money. A valuation committee set the price at £3.285 million, and both public and private sector money has been coming into the fund. On Wednesday, the National Heritage Memorial Fund contributed £1,285,000, completing the fundraising effort, and allowing the treasures to stay in the north of England.
Private funds were coming in, but apparently mostly in small amounts.
The Independent has a good article on the whole situation, with a slide show of artifact, here. And the BBC has a video here.