An unexpected finding in the mountains of Podkrkonoší, in the Czech Republic, has captured the attention of numerous experts and historians. At the beginning of the year, two hikers discovered a small aluminum boat and an iron box that, at first glance, did not seem to contain anything extraordinary. However, when they opened them, they met a Treasury composed of almost 600 gold coins, jewels and other artifactswhose age dates back to early nineteenth century.
As reported by the Oriental Bohemia Museumand has collected the American scientific journal Popular Sciencehe estimated value of this set exceeds $ 340,000.
The content of the container has been described as a true historical treasure. The iron box contained 16 Tabaqueras, 10 bracelets, a mesh bag, a comb, a chain and a compact of dustall manufactured in gold. For its part, the aluminum boat housed 598 gold coinsorganized in 11 columns wrapped individually on black fabric. As affirmed by the numismatic Vojtěch Brárdle Popular Sciencemany of these currencies carry dates between 1808 and 1915, and come from the Austrohungal Empire, specifically from the reign period of Francisco José I.
Brárdle explained that the coins did not arrive directly from the Vienna Mint to the Czech region. On the other hand, they traveled to the Balkans, where, after the collapse of the Austro -Hungarian Empire, they were marked with passwords in the then kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians. These additional brands indicate that currencies circulated in Serbia during the 1920 and 1930 decades, and that were probably used in necklaces and headdresses typical of the Balkan region.
“I discovered that these coins did not travel from the Casa de la Moneda de Vienna to us, but to the Balkans,” Brárdle said. “And there, after the collapse of the monarchy, in the then kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, Marcos, the so -called countermarks were coined.”
The finding raises intriguing questions for researchers. According to the main archaeologist of the Eastern Bohemia Museum, Miroslav Novak, The origin and route of this treasure to the Czech mountains is still a mystery. “When he opened it, I was speechless,” said Novak in an interview, referring to the moment the containers were inspected for the first time. The diversity of objects and currencies, from countries such as France, Belgium, Türkiye, Romania and Italy, suggests that The treasure has a complex history and possibly linked to historical events significantsuch as the collapse of empires and political changes in Europe.
The conservation experts of the Eastern Bohemia Museum are currently responsible for classifying and protecting these unusual findings, with the intention of including them in an upcoming sample open to the public. For its part, The two hikers who made the discovery surely do not regret the chosen route: according to Czech regulations, They could receive up to 10% of the total treasure value as compensation.
The discovery not only has considerable economic value, but also offers a unique window to the past. Experts continue to investigate how this set of coins and jewels arrived at the Podkrkonoší mountains and why no one has claimed their property for more than a century.
