Latest news with #Novák
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Mysterious gold stash found in Czech mountains leaves researchers perplexed
A mysterious box filled with gold coins and other valuable items has been found by hikers in the Krkonoše Mountains in the Czech Republic, CNN reported on Sunday. The total value of the discovery is estimated to be at least $360,000, but experts are unsure where it came from. The box was spotted by two hikers while they were walking on a trail. It was partly sticking out of a stone wall. Inside, they found 598 gold coins, gold bracelets, cigar cases, a powder compact and other metal items. The hikers brought the box to the Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Králové. The museum's experts are now studying the contents. Miroslav Novák, head of the archaeology department, told CNN that the coins were not from the local area. This has led to questions about who owned the items and why they were hidden. 'The items are valuable, but we do not yet know who put them there or why,' Novák said. 'The newest coin in the collection is from 1921. That makes it more difficult to connect the stash to a specific event.' One possible explanation, according to Novák, is that the stash could be linked to the movements of people during the early 20th century. He said it may be connected to the departure of Czech or Jewish families before World War II or the mass movement of German people after 1945. However, without further evidence, this remains only a theory. 'The public is also very curious,' Novák told CNN. 'People in the community have been sharing their own ideas about where it may have come from.' Some of the items were stored in old cigar boxes, some of which are still closed. Museum staff are being careful while handling them to avoid any damage. They are also testing the exact materials of the objects. 'It's important to take time to study the find carefully,' said Novák. 'We want to understand not just the value, but also the story behind it.' The discovery has attracted attention from across the country. Museum officials said they plan to display the objects in the future once their study is complete. Until then, the items will stay in a secure location. This kind of find is rare, and it has raised interest among both researchers and the public. For now, the gold and coins remain a mystery. As Novák said, 'This is a puzzle from the past. We hope the items will help us understand more about the people who lived here a century ago.'
Fox News
08-05-2025
- Fox News
Hikers uncover mysterious gold-filled treasure trove in overgrown field: 'Unusually large'
A cache of gold items and other pieces of treasure came to light recently – and officials are still perplexed by the trove's origin. In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, the Museum of East Bohemia in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, said that a "depot of gold coins, jewelry and tobacco boxes" had been found. Weighing a hefty 15 pounds, the cache was found by two hikers who handed the treasure over to the museum in February. "[T]wo finders discovered two boxes in an artificially created stone wall on the edge of a now non-existent field overgrown with forest during a tourist walk on the southwestern slope of Zvičina Hill," the museum said in a press release translated from Czech to English. Pictures show the stunning finds consisting of various gold rings, bars and coins, though the gold had varnished with age. In total, 598 coins were found. The container holding the gold items was "divided into 11 columns and wrapped in black fabric," according to the museum. "In a metal box found about a meter away, objects made of yellow metal were stored — 16 tobacco boxes, 10 bracelets, a bag made of fine wire mesh, a comb, a chain with a key, and a powder box," the museum also said. "This find is notable for the unusually large weight of precious metal." In a statement, Museum of East Bohemia archaeologist Miroslav Novák called the discovery a "unique find." "Storing valuable objects in the ground as treasures, known as depots, has been common practice since prehistoric times," the expert said. Novák added, "Initially, religious motives were more common, but later it was property stored during uncertain times with the intention of retrieving it later. This find is notable for the unusually large weight of precious metal." What makes the discovery so unusual is how relatively young it is. The earliest coins date to 1808. Museum of East Bohemia coin specialist Vojtěch Brádle said that the treasure had been buried "for just over 100 years." "Based on the dates stamped on them, the coins range from 1808 to 1915," the numismatist said. "However, the year 1915 is not decisive for determining when the depot was placed there." He noted that the coins must have been placed after World War I, based on certain marks. "These marks were stamped on coins in the territory of former Yugoslavia during the 1920s and 1930s," Brádle noted. "Within the context of domestic finds, this collection is very specific, as most of it consists of coins of French origin, and besides Austrian-Hungarian coins, it also includes Belgian and Ottoman coins." He added, "Conversely, German and Czechoslovak coins are entirely absent." The museum concluded its announcement by noting the opportunities that the relatively recent treasure trove presents. "[It] presents much broader, albeit more complex, possibilities for studying historical archival documents," the statement read.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Gold Coins Worth $341,000 Found Hidden in an Overgrown Field During a Rural Hike
Two hikers walking in an overgrown field in the Czech Republic discovered over $341,000 worth of hidden treasure in a man-made wall The treasure was found in two separate containers and included gold coins, jewelry and cigarette cases The discovery was handed over to a local museum, and experts believe the treasure was likely hidden during the Second World War Two tourists discovered a treasure trove of gold coins and bracelets while hiking in the Czech Republic. The hikers found the treasure in two containers hidden in a man-made wall in an overgrown field in February, according to an official Facebook post from the Museum of East Bohemia. Upon opening the containers, they discovered gold coins, bracelets, and cigarette cases weighing a total of 15 lbs. The museum — which is currently in possession of the treasure — said that the hikers began investigating the wall when they spotted an aluminum can sticking out above the surface of a shaft. The jar contained 598 gold coins 'divided into 11 columns and wrapped in black fabric.' The bracelets and other objects were then located in a metal box stored about 3 ft. away. Related: Couple Finds Rare Coins While Renovating Kitchen Floors — and They Recently Sold for Over $800,000 Miroslav Novák, the Head of the Archaeological Department at the museum, noted that while hiding precious objects in the ground has been a common practice since 'prehistoric times,' it is unique to find such a large amount of precious metal hidden from a relatively recent time period, per the musuem's Facebook post. Many of the coins found were dated between 1808 and 1915, while several were minted during the twenties and thirties, which helped the museum to better determine when the coins may have been placed in the wall. They noted that the coins originated from a variety of places, including France, Austria-Hungary, Belgium and the Ottoman Empire. Local news outlet Radio Prague International reported that the coins alone were valued at about $341,000. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Related: Girl Finds 1,000-Year-Old Viking Coins in Denmark with Metal Detector: 'This Is Very Rare' While no one currently knows who hid the treasure, Novák told the outlet that it was likely hidden due to larger world events happening in the region at the time — most specifically, the Second World War. 'The list of potential reasons for which it was likely buried is fairly clear,' he explained. 'It was the beginning of the war, the deportation of the Czech and Jewish populations, then the deportation of the Germans after the war — so there are several possibilities. There was also a monetary reform, which could have also been a reason.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The museum's coin expert, Vojtěch Brádle, additionally told Radio Prague that the coins would not have been valuable for their numerical value, but rather because of the material from which they were made. 'It was clearly not about the nominal value of the coins, whether they were worth 5, 10, or 100 crowns. It's not about what the coins could buy — that's not what mattered. It was deliberately hidden because it was precious metal,' he said. Read the original article on People
Mint
03-05-2025
- General
- Mint
Treasure worth ₹2.87 crore with possible Nazi ties found by hikers in Czech Republic
Two hikers exploring the outskirts of a forest in the northeastern Podkrkonoší Mountains in the Czech Republic made an astonishing discovery when they unearthed a treasure trove valued at over ₹ 2.87 crore ($340,000), according to a report by the New York Post. The Museum of East Bohemia, which has since taken possession of the find, confirmed that the trove included 598 gold coins, pieces of jewellery and tobacco pouches, collectively weighing approximately 15 pounds. The coins are believed to have been 'hidden in the ground for over a hundred years' and date back to the period between 1808 and the early 19th century. Experts suggest they were likely buried sometime after 1921. The collection comprises currency from France, Belgium, the Ottoman Empire, and the former Austria-Hungary. 'When he [one of the hikers] opened it, my jaw dropped,' said Miroslav Novák, head of archaeology at the museum. Describing it as a 'very specific set', local media noted that small markings on the coins indicate they were minted for use in the former Yugoslavia, which existed from 1918 until its dissolution in 1992. Though the discovery was made in February, museum officials only made the information public last week. 'We will need to analyse the rest, but at the current price of precious metals, the value of the find can start at 7.5 million [Czech] Crowns ($340,000),' Novák added. Experts are now working to uncover the origins of the buried treasure. 'To store valuable objects in the ground in the form of treasures, so-called depots have been a common practice since prehistoric times. At first, religious movements were more common; later it was property stored in uncertain times with the intention of returning later for it,' museum officials explained. One prevailing theory suggests the treasure may have been hidden by retreating Nazi forces fleeing from the advancing Russian army towards the end of the Second World War. 'It is difficult to say whether this is the gold of a Czech who had to leave the occupied territory after the Nazi invasion of 1938 [or] the gold of a German who feared displacement after 1945,' said museum director Petr Grulich. 'It could also be stolen goods from an antique shop, but we are not inclined to this option.'
Mint
03-05-2025
- General
- Mint
Treasure worth ₹2.87 crore with possible Nazi ties found by hikers in Czech Republic
Two hikers exploring the outskirts of a forest in the northeastern Podkrkonoší Mountains in the Czech Republic made an astonishing discovery when they unearthed a treasure trove valued at over ₹ 2.87 crore ($340,000), according to a report by the New York Post. The Museum of East Bohemia, which has since taken possession of the find, confirmed that the trove included 598 gold coins, pieces of jewellery and tobacco pouches, collectively weighing approximately 15 pounds. The coins are believed to have been 'hidden in the ground for over a hundred years' and date back to the period between 1808 and the early 19th century. Experts suggest they were likely buried sometime after 1921. The collection comprises currency from France, Belgium, the Ottoman Empire, and the former Austria-Hungary. 'When he [one of the hikers] opened it, my jaw dropped,' said Miroslav Novák, head of archaeology at the museum. Describing it as a 'very specific set', local media noted that small markings on the coins indicate they were minted for use in the former Yugoslavia, which existed from 1918 until its dissolution in 1992. Though the discovery was made in February, museum officials only made the information public last week. 'We will need to analyse the rest, but at the current price of precious metals, the value of the find can start at 7.5 million [Czech] Crowns ($340,000),' Novák added. Experts are now working to uncover the origins of the buried treasure. 'To store valuable objects in the ground in the form of treasures, so-called depots have been a common practice since prehistoric times. At first, religious movements were more common; later it was property stored in uncertain times with the intention of returning later for it,' museum officials explained. One prevailing theory suggests the treasure may have been hidden by retreating Nazi forces fleeing from the advancing Russian army towards the end of the Second World War. 'It is difficult to say whether this is the gold of a Czech who had to leave the occupied territory after the Nazi invasion of 1938 [or] the gold of a German who feared displacement after 1945,' said museum director Petr Grulich. 'It could also be stolen goods from an antique shop, but we are not inclined to this option.' As investigations continue, the two fortunate hikers stand to receive 10 per cent of the treasure's value, in line with Czech law. First Published: 3 May 2025, 12:53 PM IST
