A Frenchman discovered gold worth R14 million. Image: Mining Weekly.A Frenchman discovered gold worth R14 million. Image: Mining Weekly.
(The Post News)– A homeowner in the French town of Neuville-sur-Saône uncovered an amazing discovery while excavating his lawn earlier this year: five gold bars and several coins worth around €800,000, or an estimated R14 million at current exchange rates.
Gold Discovery and Legal Outcome
The discovery was made in May 2025 when the French man, whose name is undisclosed, started excavating for his swimming pool.
The DRAC then evaluated the location and determined that the treasure was not a part of any legally protected archaeological asset.
Then, following a police inquiry, authorities verified that the bars were not connected to any theft or illegal activity and had been lawfully melted down in a nearby refinery around 15 to 20 years ago.
Meanwhile, French law permits the finder, who is also the present landowner, to keep the treasure if the former owner of the property has passed away and no heirs have come forward.
Since then, it has been established that the homeowner is the gold’s legitimate owner.
Rare Discoveries
While treasure discoveries are uncommon, this case indicates just how regular digs can produce amazing findings.
Moreover, according to French law, such discoveries must be reported and evaluated, particularly for archeological relevance. Luckily for the homeowner, the gold was deemed contemporary rather than historical by the provincial authorities.
However, questions still exist. It is still unknown where the gold stockpile came from, who buried it, and why. The bars were concealed beneath the garden for no apparent reason, and the land’s last known owner has passed away.
What began as a backyard landscaping effort has become a life-altering experience for the homeowner. For the rest of us, it serves as a reminder that sometimes; hidden gems are just under our feet and that timely reporting and appropriate legal action may make all the difference.
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