Gold Treasure Worth $2.4M Found in Vienna Basement Renovation

Hidden golden worthy $2.4 cardinal discovered by a plumber successful a Vienna villa’s basement. Credit: Dr. Avishai Teicher / CC BY 2.5

A plumber successful Vienna, Austria, made an unthinkable find portion moving successful a cellar. He recovered a hidden metallic container filled with gold treasure successful the signifier of coins. The coins are worthy an estimated $2.4 million.

The find started erstwhile the antheral noticed a unusual enactment protruding from the basement level of a villa nether renovation successful Vienna’s Penzing area.

The plumber, whose individuality remains unknown, noticed the enactment but couldn’t propulsion it free. Determined to investigate, helium utilized a shovel to excavation into the factual astir it.

As helium chipped away, helium recovered a rusty metallic box, and erstwhile helium managed to unfastened it, helium recovered astir 66 pounds (30 kilograms) of golden coins inside. The coins were adorned with images of Mozart, Austria’s legendary composer.

Plumber to perchance get $1.3 million

The time earlier the discovery, different builder noticed the enactment but chose to disregard it, unknowingly missing retired connected the accidental to get his stock of the treasure. Other workers successful the basement besides overlooked the hidden luck and near with nothing.

However, the funny plumber’s persistence paid off. He is present acceptable to person a important reward for his find.

Finding a 2 cardinal euro treasure successful an aged Austrian villa is great, but I can't assistance but wonderment if anyone has looked into the household that lived determination who hid it conscionable earlier WW2 and past ne'er returned to cod it…https://t.co/5mUC68F4w7 pic.twitter.com/wwmDeUDspW

— Fake History Hunter (@fakehistoryhunt) November 17, 2024

In Austria, treasures similar this are divided evenly betwixt the finder and the property owner. This means the plumber could locomotion distant with an awesome $1.3 million.

Speaking to an Austrian publication, the plumber described the find arsenic extraordinary.

“Something similar this is truly unbelievable. From clip to clip you mightiness find a fewer coins, but specified a find is fantastic,” helium said.

Experts judge the coins were buried during the Second World War. At the time, galore affluent Europeans hid their valuables, specified arsenic the golden treasure the plumber found, to support them from being stolen oregon mislaid during the chaos.

Other precocious uncovered treasures astir the world

The plumber whitethorn beryllium Austria’s luckiest man, but stories of unexpected treasures person surfaced successful different parts of the world, arsenic well.

For instance, archaeologists from the University of Michigan precocious uncovered a trove of Persian golden coins successful the ancient Greek metropolis of Notion, located connected the occidental seashore of modern-day Turkey.

The coins were hidden wrong a tiny ceramic cookware and discovered successful a ample courtyard location astatine the bosom of the past city.

In September 2024, archaeologists uncovered a singular Viking treasure buried for implicit 1 1000 years. The hoard included 4 metallic bracelets, each adorned with unsocial and intricate designs.

Experts judge the artifacts were hidden beneath the level of an aged home, perchance erstwhile inhabited by Viking slaves. The house, remarkably well-preserved, was portion of a larger Viking farm. Alongside the bracelets, researchers recovered further artifacts, offering invaluable insights into Viking beingness and culture.