Two hikers found a mysterious box full of valuable items while walking in the Krkonose Mountains in the Czech Republic. The box was hidden in a forest and contained gold coins, jewelry, and other objects.
The aluminium box held 598 gold coins, 10 gold bracelets, 17 cigar cases, a powder compact, and a comb. The hikers handed over the treasure to the Museum of Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Kralove.
Experts say the items are about 100 years old. One of the coins dates back to 1921. They believe the treasure was hidden during difficult times before World War II. It may have been left by Czech or Jewish families who were leaving the area. Another possibility is that Germans hid it in 1945 when they were retreating.
Miroslav Novak, head of the museum’s archaeological department, told CNN in an email, “The finders came to our coin expert without an appointment. After that, archaeologists started to examine the find and explore the site.”
Novak added, “The discovery is likely linked to the turbulent period before World War II or to 1945 when Germans were leaving.”
The exact reason why the treasure was hidden and who hid it remains unknown. Archaeologists are studying the site and items to learn more. The discovery has attracted interest from both experts and the public.
The gold coins alone are worth around $360,000 (more than ₹3 crore). They weigh 3.7 kilograms and mostly come from the Balkans and France. Interestingly, there were no local or German coins found. Two cigar cases inside the box are still sealed.
Local residents have shared many theories about where the treasure came from. Some think it belonged to a wealthy family. Others believe it could be war loot taken by Czechoslovak soldiers.
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