Tourists in Czechia discover unique treasure: Details
Tourists in Czechia accidentally discovered a treasure during a hike (photo: facebook.com/muzeumhk.cz)
In the northeast of Czechia, two tourists stumbled upon a unique treasure. Nearly 600 gold coins and antique jewelry weighing more than 10 kilograms had been hidden in a stone wall over a hundred years ago. The discovery has already sparked the interest of archaeologists and may provide new insights into the post-war history of Central Europe.
Earth explains what is known about this discovery and whether the tourists will be able to receive a reward.
They were hiking when they found a treasure
The tourists made the discovery during a winter hike on the slope of Zvičina Hill. They found two metal containers embedded in the wall about a meter apart. Inside were:
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Gold coins wrapped in black cloth
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Bracelets
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Snuffboxes
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A mesh purse
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A powder compact.
The contents were neatly arranged, suggesting a hurried yet careful attempt to hide them.
What is known about the coins
According to experts, the collection spans the period from 1808 to 1915. Most of the coins are French, with others from Austria-Hungary, Belgium, and the Ottoman Empire.
However, there were no German or Czechoslovak coins in the containers, which is unusual for the region. Some of the coins bear Yugoslav countermarks from the 1920s–1930s, meaning the treasure was hidden sometime after 1921.
Part of the coins circulated in the Balkans after World War I, which is not surprising since they were made of the precious metals of that era.
According to numismatist Vojtěch Bradle, this composition makes the discovery stand out among all similar finds in Czechia.
Tourists in Czechia accidentally discovered a treasure of gold (screenshot, Museum of Eastern Bohemia)
What historians say about the discovery
The contents of the two containers suggest that the stash was made during periods of instability in Central Europe after World War I.
The set of items may indicate economic hardship, an attempt to preserve capital, or an effort by the owner to protect their valuables during political upheavals.
What will happen next with the discovered treasure
The treasure is currently at the Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Králové, where it is being studied by a team led by curator Miroslav Novák.
For the research, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is being used to determine the composition of the metals. The coins weigh about 3.75 kg of gold.
All the jewelry is being preserved under separate protocols to prevent damage. Chemical analyses will help experts determine the origin of the items and even possible routes of their movement.
Will the tourists receive a reward
In Czechia, there is a law on cultural heritage, and tourists are entitled to a reward. They followed all the rules — immediately reporting the find to the authorities and handing the containers over to the museum.
The reward can reach the market value of the gold jewelry or 10% of the cultural and historical valuation of the items.
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