After declaring the 52,000-plus Roman coin hoard as "treasure" on Thursday, the hard work of securing the future of the find began.

Estimations for the value of the hoard differ hugely, from figures suggesting it could be worth millions to the more sensible suggestion of around £100,000.

Coroner Tony Williams gave his own little history lesson when he revealed that the work of the coroner was started in 1194 in part to make these very decisions about treasure.

And by declaring the Frome Hoard as treasure, the coins now belong equally to metal detectorist Dave Crisp and the landowner, who is only being named as Geoff to protect the location of the hoard.

Although a full investigation has taken place on the land and nothing is believed to remain, the farmer and his family do not want would-be treasure hunters seeking their fortune on his farm.

Head of museums for Somerset County Council Steve Minnitt revealed that it could be as early as the autumn that the county knows how much money it will have to raise to buy the hoard for the county.

The timing of the discovery of a find of such national importance is, as Mr Minnitt said, very opportune.

It will now be centre-stage when the county's newly revamped museum at Taunton reopens next year.

"We expect the valuation to take place perhaps in October and that is when we'll know exactly how much we have to raise," he said.

"There have been some very large figures mentioned but the truth is nobody really knows.

"Ever since the hoard was found I have been in discussion with grant-giving bodies to see what interest there would be in helping to secure this hoard for Somerset.

"That will, of course, need to be match-funded here in Somerset with fundraising and really the appeal starts here, today."

Mr Minnitt was talking at an exhibition after the inquest where members of the public and press had their first glimpses of some of the coins.

In all 2,000 people filed past the collection, talking to archaeologists and experts and seeing for themselves some of the tiny coins and learning why they are so special.

The vast majority are still at the British Museum and it has been estimated that it will take a conservator a year to clean all the coins and stop them corroding.

"Firstly we have to raise the money to cover the cost of the conservator's work, that is likely to be £30,000," said Mr Minnitt.

"We are thrilled that a new book will be launched in the next few weeks – co-published by us and the British Museum – on the hoard, with a donation from the sale of each book going to the conservator's appeal.

"I have to say the reaction from people today has been unprecedented and is fantastic.

"We've had people queuing up for an hour to see this. Some have even brought in items for us to see."

Experts want to keep quiet about one of the items brought in – a potentially-rare 600AD coin.

"To see the excitement that this hoard has generated, to see how it has enthused people of all ages and even to prompt some to come forward with things they have found, well that is the icing on the cake," he said.