According to the head of the archeology department, Milan Metlička, the treasure was found basically by accident. “It was March 23, we worked from home because everything was closed and suddenly my phone rang and the gentleman told me that his son and his girlfriend found a coin deposit while walking through the woods near Stříbro, that there were gold coins and for that I’ll come, “Metlička described.
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And indeed, when he arrived at the place, the treasure was there. “It took us two hours to get there because we still had to pick up all the equipment, but those people were waiting for us. Which wasn’t very pleasant, because it was around five degrees at the time. “
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The vast majority of 92 gold coins, three hundred silver groschen and other coins were stored in a sort of container under a stone that the finders overturned. Only a few coins rolled around and were frozen to the ground. “The finding was made mainly thanks to wild animals, probably wild pigs, which dug up the soil and exposed the coins,” Metlička explained.
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Photographs from the treasure hunt.
Photo: Jiří Šolc, Právo
But why was a total of 435 coins hidden under a stone in the woods? “It is probably related to the disputes between the local nobility and the Kladruby monastery. It could be a messenger from a monastery that they raided and he wanted to hide money, or thieves who hid the loot from the hands of the law. But it is now impossible to determine, “outlined Metlička.
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According to the director of the West Bohemian Museum, František Frýd, the treasure hunter does not want to state his identity. “Basically, I’m not surprised, there is already speculation on the Internet that he found the treasure with a metal detector and that it’s just camouflage of the museum and the like,” said the director. If he found the treasure with a detector, he would not be entitled to a legal reward.
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“It can be either ten percent of the price of the metal, or if it is a finding of great historical significance, then ten percent of the historical price. However, we do not decide on this, but the Regional Office of the Pilsen Region, “Frýd explained, adding that the price of the metal is currently estimated at about half a million crowns and the historical price at about 3.5 million.
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