GOLD COIN CACHE FOUND IN FRENCH MANSION

   

Builders discovered a stash of 239 gold coins at a manor in northwestern France which could earn up to 300,000 euros ($356,490) at auction later this month.

The three craftsmen found the treasure while working on the restoration of a house in Plozévet, Brittany, in the coastal area of Bigouden in 2019, according to a press release from auctioneers Deloys ahead of the sale. The property had been purchased by a couple in 2012.

While merging a barn and a nursery, the builders found a metal box lodged inside a wall, which had gold coins inside. Just days later, above a beam, they spotted a purse containing another set of coins.

All 239 coins were minted during the sovereignty of Louis XIII and Louis XIV, according to the Regional Preventive Archaeology Service in France, which authenticated, analyzed and researched the coins.

The oldest of them dates back to 1638, with the most recent from 1692.

There are several especially rare coins among the collection, including the Golden Louis with Templar Cross, Golden Louis with a long curl, and Louis XIV by the Atelier de Dijon -- which has an estimated value of 15,000 euros ($17,805).

The mansion itself was constructed in the 13th century and would have been owned by a family of affluent merchants or farmers, with the identity of the last known occupants stemming from the 18th century.

To read the complete article, see:
Builders discover stash of 239 gold coins worth up to $356,000 (https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/brittany-builders-discover-gold-coins-intl-scli/index.html)

To read the Smithsonian article, see:
Trove of 239 Rare Gold Coins Discovered in Walls of French Mansion (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/trove-239-rare-gold-coins-discovered-walls-french-mansion-180978575/)

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