A Lucky Dig in France Uncovers a Golden Surprise

In a small town in France, a man was digging a swimming pool in his garden when he stumbled upon a hidden treasure. The discovery was not just any ordinary find. It was a stash of gold worth a whopping $800,000.

The Treasure

The treasure consisted of:

• Five gold bars
• Numerous coins

All neatly packed in plastic bags.

Investigation

Investigations revealed that the gold had been legally acquired and melted down about 15 to 20 years ago at a nearby refinery. The unique numbers on the gold bars helped the police determine that the treasure was not stolen.

Legal Aspects

According to France's 19th-century civil code, treasure is defined as any hidden or buried item whose ownership cannot be proven and is discovered by chance. The code states that the finder of such treasure on their property becomes the owner.

The previous owner of the garden had passed away, leaving the origin of the gold a mystery.

Questions and Implications

This lucky discovery raises questions about:

• The history of the gold
• How it ended up buried in the garden
• The legal aspects of treasure hunting
• The importance of reporting such finds to authorities

Similar Discoveries

Such discoveries are not uncommon. In recent years, other homeowners have also found valuable treasures on their properties. For example, a couple in Northern California discovered $10 million worth of rare coins dating back to the 1800s while hiking on their land.