Overview

• Two hikers unearthed a treasure trove in the Podkrkonoší Mountains in February, containing 598 gold coins and various artifacts, collectively valued at approximately $340,000.
• The coins, dated 1808–1915 with 1921 Yugoslav countermarks, originated from multiple European and Ottoman mints, suggesting a complex historical context.
• The hoard also included cigarette cases, bracelets, and other personal items stored in an iron box, with material tests ongoing to determine their composition.
• Researchers hypothesize the cache may have been hidden during WWII by fleeing civilians or retreating Nazi forces, but its exact origins remain uncertain.
• Under Czech heritage law, the hikers are entitled to a 10% finder’s fee, while the Museum of East Bohemia continues conservation and provenance studies.