Hikers Discover Rare Treasure Worth Millions in Czech Republic Forest
PRAGUE – In a remarkable turn of events, two hikers exploring a forested mountain area in the Czech Republic have stumbled upon a centuries-old treasure estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
According to international media reports, the treasure has been secured by the Museum of Eastern Bohemia and includes **598 gold coins, jewelry, and tobacco pouches**, weighing approximately **15 pounds** in total.
Experts at the museum have dated the coins to around **1808 or the early 19th century**, and believe the treasure was likely buried **sometime after 1921**. The coins originate from several former states and empires, including **France, Belgium, the Ottoman Empire**, and the **former Austro-Hungarian Empire**.
Miroslav Novák, head of the archaeology department, expressed his astonishment at the discovery: “When the hikers showed us what they had found, I was speechless. This is an exceptionally rare find.” He noted that the markings on the coins suggest they were **minted for use in former Yugoslavia between 1918 and 1992**.
The initial estimated value of the discovery is around **\$340,000**, based on current precious metal prices, though experts are still analyzing the other items found. Researchers are also trying to uncover how the treasure ended up buried in the foothills.
One leading theory is that **Nazi soldiers may have hidden the treasure while retreating from Soviet forces at the end of World War II**.
Under Czech law, the lucky hikers who made the discovery will be rewarded with **10% of the treasure’s total value** as a legal finder’s fee.
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