Treasure Hunting
Can you think of anything more exciting than finding lost treasure? Well, one social media
user was lucky enough to find a locked money safe in a junk yard. In the video posted on
TikTok in March, they use heavy machinery to crack open the treasure chest, finding a thick
envelope full of money.
If you think that is exciting, here are some more examples of forgotten safes and shocking
finds.
A stolen coin collection
The world is full of long-lost safes. If you’re as lucky as Leigh Webber, you might discover
one full of treasure someday. On February 22 nd 2021, ‘Bondi Treasure Hunter’ posted a Tik
Tok of his legendary discovery. Lost and forgotten at the bottom of an Amsterdam canal, he
had found a mysterious collection of copper coins that read ‘Hortus Bonaticus 1682–1982’.
To find out if his treasure was worth any real gold, he researched the origin of these coins.
It turns out that this safe was stolen over 20 years ago. The coins were also part of a
commemorative collection for the beloved botanical gardens. And only 500 were made! Do
you think this modern-day copper rush is shocking?
A mysterious treasure map
If you’re renovating your kitchen, you might expect to find a creepy crawly or two beneath
the floorboards. But what would you do if you discovered a hidden safe? One couple found
themselves in this exact situation, and they unearthed $51,000!
As well as finding thousands of dollars, the couple discovered a mysterious treasure map in
the safe. The original owners of the safe had underlined sentences within a book and used
bookmarks with telling locations. We can only imagine what the map leads to – another
$51,000 maybe?
A collection of diamonds and jewels
One couple, Matthew and Maria, found a rusty safe buried in their back garden. Once
opened, they found a collection of diamonds, gold rings with jade, engagement rings, and a
stash of cash. Overall, the safe was estimated to be worth more than $50,000!
Nestled between precious pieces of jewellery, they also found a piece of paper with an
address written on it. Matthew and Maria tracked down the owners (luckily, they lived
locally) and passed over their long-lost possessions. It turns out the was stolen from their
home and they had given up on any hope to find it.
A golden lunula
What could be better than finding diamonds and jewels? Well, unearthing precious
historical jewellery might do the trick. During the late 20 th century, a golden lunula was
discovered in a stolen safe. This has been traced back to the Bronze Age, anytime between
300 BC and 1200 AD!
The story of this shocking find is even more unbelievable. Believe it or not, the original
criminals who stole the safe accidentally threw this in a bin. Luckily for everyone who wants
to see this lunula for themselves, the item is now stored in the National Museum of Ireland.
A first aid kit from WWII
The last of our shocking finds is another one from the history books. In 2020, after moving
into a 1950s stone farmhouse, Jacqueline Antonovich found a forgotten metal box behind
the stove. Inside was a first aid kit from the Second World War filled with medical
equipment specifically for gas casualties. This is a goldmine for anyone, never mind the fact
that she is a historian of medicine herself.
These are some of the most shocking finds in safes. Whether they are moments in history
buried and forgotten or valuables returned to their owners, finding treasure troves is always
exciting. Will you go treasure hunting?
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