From January next year, the ingot will form part of an exhibition to celebrate the opening of the new temporary exhibition suite at the Museum and Gallery complex at Bedford.
Provisionally titled Treasures from the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery & Bedford Museum, the display will feature many of the gems from both collections.
As the ingot is over 300 years old and has a precious metal content over 10%, it qualifies as treasure under the 1996 Treasure Act.
The Act requires anyone who discovers a gold or silver object over that age to report it to their local coroner and deposit it with their local museum, archaeological officer or Finds Liaison Officer.
The treasure then goes to the British Museum to be valued and a local museum is then able to buy the treasure. The money acquired gets split between the finder and the owner of the land where it was found.
