A mysterious coin stash buried for decades has just resurfaced, unlocking a forgotten chapter of history. Inside: gold giants, royal rarities, and a secret lost to war.
A staggering trove of 15,000 rare coins, hidden from the Nazis and lost to history for over half a century, has reemerged — and it’s valued at more than $100 million USD (around $160 million AUD). Dubbed the Traveller Collection, this extraordinary cache is about to rewrite numismatic history.
The Traveller Collection began in the aftermath of the 1929 Wall Street Crash, when a European collector and his wife embarked on a decades-long journey through Europe and the Americas. Their mission: acquire the rarest and most historically significant coins on Earth. Each piece was carefully cataloged, leaving behind a meticulous record of provenance.
But as World War II loomed and Nazi forces advanced, the collector made a drastic decision. Rather than risk losing the collection, he buried it. Packed into cigar boxes and aluminum containers, the entire treasure was hidden underground — and the man himself vanished into history.
The auction will mark a major moment in high-stakes coin collecting, offering coins of such rarity and quality that many haven’t been seen for over 80 years — and some were never previously documented in official numismatic records.
A 50 Toman coin, which forms part of an “exceedingly rare” set of Tomans minted in Tehran and Isfahan in the late 18th and early 19th century. Credit: Flint Culture
At the heart of the collection lies the 100 Ducat gold coin of Ferdinand III of Habsburg (1629). Weighing 348.5 grams of fine gold, it’s one of the largest European gold coins ever struck, with an estimated value of $1.35 million USD.
Another gem is the 70 Ducat coin of Polish King Sigismund III (1621), tipping the scales at 243 grams, and valued around $471,700 USD.
These aren’t just collector’s items — they are monuments of monetary history, encapsulating the legacy of European dynasties and geopolitical shifts in solid gold.
Among the items going under the hammer is a 100 ducat gold coin of Ferdinand III of Habsburg, which was minted in 1629. Credit: Flint Culture
The auction is part of a three-year series, each wave unveiling new layers of this buried legacy. With such a diverse and well-preserved portfolio — stretching across over 100 global regions — the collection is expected to draw international interest from both historians and high-net-worth collectors.
This five guinea of George III, dated 1777, is valued at just about $340,000 (300,000 swiss francs). Credit: Flint Culture
More than a goldmine, the Traveller Collection is a historic time capsule. It captures not only a collector’s passion but also the turbulent eras it survived — the Great Depression, World War II, and the decades of silence that followed.
Each coin speaks to personal obsession, historical resilience, and the mysterious paths by which treasures are sometimes lost — then found.
With its upcoming auction, the Traveller Collection transforms from buried legend to living legacy, reintroducing the world to forgotten currencies that once held nations and empires together.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/160-million-gold-treasure-found-after-50-years-hidden-underground/
A staggering trove of 15,000 rare coins, hidden from the Nazis and lost to history for over half a century, has reemerged — and it’s valued at more than $100 million USD (around $160 million AUD). Dubbed the Traveller Collection, this extraordinary cache is about to rewrite numismatic history.
Hidden from Nazis, Sealed in Cigar Boxes, Buried and Forgotten
The Traveller Collection began in the aftermath of the 1929 Wall Street Crash, when a European collector and his wife embarked on a decades-long journey through Europe and the Americas. Their mission: acquire the rarest and most historically significant coins on Earth. Each piece was carefully cataloged, leaving behind a meticulous record of provenance.
But as World War II loomed and Nazi forces advanced, the collector made a drastic decision. Rather than risk losing the collection, he buried it. Packed into cigar boxes and aluminum containers, the entire treasure was hidden underground — and the man himself vanished into history.
The $160 Million Collection Returns to the Light
More than five decades later, the collector’s heirs recovered the treasure and brought it to the world’s attention. The auction house Numismatica Ars Classica (NAC) is now preparing to unveil it, with the first sale scheduled for May 20, 2025. According to NAC director Arturo Russo, this will be “the most valuable numismatic collection ever to come to auction in its entirety.”The auction will mark a major moment in high-stakes coin collecting, offering coins of such rarity and quality that many haven’t been seen for over 80 years — and some were never previously documented in official numismatic records.
Coin Giants: Gold Titans of European Royalty
At the heart of the collection lies the 100 Ducat gold coin of Ferdinand III of Habsburg (1629). Weighing 348.5 grams of fine gold, it’s one of the largest European gold coins ever struck, with an estimated value of $1.35 million USD.
Another gem is the 70 Ducat coin of Polish King Sigismund III (1621), tipping the scales at 243 grams, and valued around $471,700 USD.
These aren’t just collector’s items — they are monuments of monetary history, encapsulating the legacy of European dynasties and geopolitical shifts in solid gold.
Never-Before-Seen Coins Set to Headline 2025 Auction
The inaugural auction in May 2025 will focus on British machine-struck coins, spanning monarchs from Charles II to George VI. The entire first wave of coins will be on public display throughout April at NAC’s London office.The auction is part of a three-year series, each wave unveiling new layers of this buried legacy. With such a diverse and well-preserved portfolio — stretching across over 100 global regions — the collection is expected to draw international interest from both historians and high-net-worth collectors.
The Traveller Collection’s Enduring
More than a goldmine, the Traveller Collection is a historic time capsule. It captures not only a collector’s passion but also the turbulent eras it survived — the Great Depression, World War II, and the decades of silence that followed.
Each coin speaks to personal obsession, historical resilience, and the mysterious paths by which treasures are sometimes lost — then found.
With its upcoming auction, the Traveller Collection transforms from buried legend to living legacy, reintroducing the world to forgotten currencies that once held nations and empires together.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/160-million-gold-treasure-found-after-50-years-hidden-underground/
