Two tourists who stumbled upon a buried cache of gold in the Czech countryside last April are set to receive a reward of 11.7 million CZK (roughly €480,700) from regional authorities.

The discovery, made on a hillside near Zvičina Hill close to Dvůr Králové nad Labem, ranks among the most remarkable recent finds of its kind in the country.

The hoard, weighing more than five kilograms, included nearly 600 gold coins along with bracelets and other valuables. Experts believe the items were concealed sometime after 1921, most likely during the upheaval surrounding World War II.

The condition of the coins and artifacts made it clear that they had been deliberately hidden and left untouched for decades.

Special markings on the coins helped specialists narrow down the timeframe in which the treasure was buried. However, no inscriptions or identifying features have been found that could reveal the identity of the original owner.

Historians say several scenarios remain possible, including a family attempting to safeguard wealth while fleeing Nazi persecution, German residents forced to leave after the war, or even a soldier trying to conceal assets during a chaotic retreat.

The area where the treasure was uncovered lies in what was once the Sudetenland, a region historically inhabited by both Czechs and Germans. At the time, the local population was largely made up of farmers and textile workers, with little evidence of significant wealth. This has deepened the mystery surrounding the origin of such a valuable collection.

The tourists came across the hoard hidden among stones in what is believed to be a man-made embankment. Despite the location being accessible and regularly passed by locals, the cache had remained unnoticed.

The artifacts have since been handed over to conservation specialists. While the coins are in relatively good condition, other items such as jewelry require careful cleaning. Restorers are working through fine engravings and delicate surfaces to preserve the objects without damaging them.

The conservation process is expected to continue for several months. Once completed, the hoard will be displayed to the public at the Museum of East Bohemia.

Under Czech law governing the protection of cultural heritage, finders of valuable objects are entitled to a financial reward based on the material’s value. In cases involving precious metals, the compensation corresponds directly to the market price at the time of discovery. Regional officials confirmed that the payout to the two tourists reflects this rule.

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