On the evening of Wednesday 8 July 2026, join Gillian Tett as she traces the deep entanglement of metal and money from ancient coinage to digital currency, asking how societies create, preserve — and, sometimes, lose — their sense of value.
In this year's Goldsmiths' Company Lecture, anthropologist, economist and author Gillian Tett traces the deep entanglement of metal and money from ancient coinage to digital currency, asking how societies create, preserve — and, sometimes, lose — their sense of value. Connecting craftsmanship, commerce and civilisation, Tett views precious metals through both economic and cultural lenses, exploring how they shape luxury and craft-led industries and why, in an increasingly weightless financial world, they endure as stores of value.
About the speaker
Gillian Tett is Provost of King's College, Cambridge, a member of the editorial board for the Financial Times, and a columnist covering a range of economic, financial, political and social issues.
Previously, Tett chaired the FT Editorial Board and US managing editor from 2013 to 2019. She has also served as assistant editor for the FT’s markets coverage, capital markets editor, deputy editor of the Lex column, Tokyo bureau chief, Tokyo correspondent, a London-based economics reporter and a reporter in Russia and Brussels.
Tett is the author of Anthrovision and The Silo Effect, both of which look at the global economy and financial system through the lens of cultural anthropology. She also authored Fool’s Gold: How Unrestrained Greed Corrupted a Dream, Shattered Global Markets and Unleashed a Catastrophe, a 2009 New York Times bestseller and Financial Book of the Year at the inaugural Spear’s Book Awards.
Tett has received honorary degrees from the University of Exeter, the University of Miami, St Andrew’s, London University (Goldsmiths), Carnegie Mellon, Baruch and an honorary doctorate from Lancaster University in the UK. The recipient of numerous awards, she has an OBE for her services to financial journalism.
Public tickets go on sales Tuesday 28 April
Terms & Conditions
Tickets for the Goldsmiths’ Company Lecture are priced at £15 per person and include light refreshments after the talk and are non refundable
Tickets must be booked in the name of the person who is attending - photo ID that matches the name on the booking will be required to gain entry.
Security & bag policy
Goldsmiths’ Hall operates Airport style enhanced security procedures for all public events - these include a bag scanner and a security arch. Suitcases and items larger than a laptop bag are not permitted inside the building. Unmanned cloakroom facilities will be provide free of charge for coats, bags and umbrellas.
Disabled access to Goldsmiths’ Hall
The main entrance to Goldsmiths’ Hall is on Foster Lane and may not be suitable for visitors who require step-free access. Those who are require level access from street level should ring the bell on Carey Lane, for assistance and access by lift. If you have any concerns or questions about visiting the building, please email us.
The public rooms of Goldsmiths’ Hall are located on the first floor, and can be accessed by lift from within the ground floor lobby.