Czech hikers discover gold treasure hidden in a can
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In 2025, two hikers exploring Mount Zvičina in the Czech Republic discovered an old aluminum can hidden within a stone wall. They turned the can over to the Museum of East Bohemia in Hradec Králové, which later confirmed it contained a treasure of gold coins and artifacts.
The can held 598 gold coins arranged in eleven columns, each wrapped in cloth.
Near the can, authorities also found a metal box with over thirty golden items including snuffboxes, bracelets, and a mesh pouch. The Puncovní úřad, the Czech state agency for precious metals, verified the purity of the gold. The total weight of the pure gold reached 5,230.56 grams, which, based on the price at the time of discovery, was worth between 440,000 and 450,000 euros. Current gold prices would value the treasure at approximately 637,000 euros.
The coins date from 1808 to 1915, suggesting the treasure was buried after 1921. While the origin and owner of the treasure remain unknown, some theories link it to historical events in the region, such as deportations, German occupation, or the 1953 communist monetary reform.
The museum plans to keep the collection intact to document movements of people and heritage in Central Europe during the first half of the 20th century, and will collaborate with foreign researchers to study coins potentially linked to the former Yugoslavia.
