Foreign Visitors Unearth a Hidden Fortune, Amassing Almost 18 Million Tenge
An astonishing find: Two hikers stumble upon an ancient treasure worth over 7.5 million Czech crowns
A casual walk in the hills took an unexpected turn for two tourists near the Polish border, transforming into a real-life adventure when they stumbled upon a hidden treasure, as reported by our site. The Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Králové's Arkeonews broke the news, announcing the discovery after official confirmation by archaeologists and experts.
"I couldn't believe my eyes; my jaw dropped. This is one of the most valuable finds in recent decades," commented the museum's leading numismatist, Vojtěch Bradle.
Photo: The Museum of Eastern Bohemia
What was discovered?
As the story goes, the treasure was found along a tourist trail, where the hikers initially unearthed an aluminum can containing 598 gold coins wrapped in black cloth. Further nearby, they discovered an iron box filled with exquisite jewelry: bracelets, a chain, a comb, a powder box, and a wire purse. The total weight was approximately 7 kilograms, with nearly 3.7 kilograms of pure gold. Experts have dated the coins to the 1920s-1930s, with mints from countries like Serbia, France, Turkey, Belgium, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia.
The mystery of the treasure's origins
The origin of the treasure remains shrouded in mystery. Several theories exist:
- The treasure could have been hidden by Czechs fleeing the Nazis after 1938.
- It's plausible that it was buried by Germans expecting expulsion after World War II in 1945.
- Another theory suggests the coins were hidden during the 1953 communist monetary reform.
"It's challenging to pinpoint whether this treasure belonged to Czech, German, or Jewish owners. We still need to unravel this complex historical puzzle," said museum director Petr Grulich.
Rewards for the lucky discoverers
Czech law allows a finder of a historically valuable artifact to claim up to 10% of its estimated value. This means the tourists could receive approximately 750,000 crowns.
Onward investigation
Archaeologists and historians from the Museum of Eastern Bohemia are now delving deeper into the site of the discovery, conducting archival searches and analyzing the gold content and origin of the items. Preliminary data suggests that most of the Austro-Hungarian coins were intended for circulation in Serbia and Bosnia, further complicating the history of the hoard.
"The historical value of this find may eventually surpass its market value," experts note.
It is anticipated that after all examinations and paperwork are completed, the hoard will become part of the museum exhibition in the Czech Republic, allowing everyone to marvel at its historical significance.
Also read: "Spent 252 Days in Korea": Traveler Reveals Useful SecretsHoards Czech Republic Tourists Coins Jewelry Carnelian
When it seemed like a Kazakhstani affair, it turned out to be unrelated to the region.
- Carnelian, yes, that's correct, it's not happening in Kazakhstan, nor about Kazakhs. So why bother with such news?
- Do you prefer to live sheltered, oblivious to the world beyond your immediate surroundings? Embrace life, but I found this article intriguing, thanks for the diverse content, Tengri.
- Dig deeper, let's gather more information.
- If they're Polish, where will they keep the 18 million tenge?
For our users' convenience, we've set up automatic geolocation for comment authors.
- The treasure, worth over 7.5 million Czech crowns, discovered by two hikers near the Polish border, contains an interesting mix of coins and jewelry from various countries, including Serbia, France, Turkey, Belgium, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia.
- The Czechs, specifically museum experts, are conducting further investigation to uncover the treasure's mysterious origins, considering theories such as its concealment by Czechs fleeing the Nazis or burial by Germans during World War II.
- The lucky discoverers, being tourists, could potentially claim approximately 750,000 crowns as reward according to Czech law, considering the treasure's historical value.
- Apart from the monetary rewards, the treasure's historical significance could surpass its market value, making it a valuable addition to the museum exhibition in the Czech Republic, thereby enriching the lifestyle and travel experiences of its visitors.
