The coins shown are clearly not Roman coins but rather Potins from the Celtic period. It is frustrating when the researchers for these subjects cannot even be bothered to show the correct content
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The most incredible treasure finds of 2017
lovemoney staff
21 December 2017
Hidden treasures
From paintings gathering dust in attics to pots of coins discovered in the garden, some incredible treasures have been discovered in 2017.
The million-dollar Bullitt Mustang
One of only two Ford Mustangs custom made for the classic Steve McQueen film Bullitt, which boasts one of the most awesome car chases in history, was found in Mexico languishing in a corner of a junkyard. Acquired for peanuts, it has an estimated value of more than £800,000
An Andy Warhol artwork
In July, rock star Alice Cooper found an Andy Warhol masterpiece that could be worth millions ‘rolled up in a tube’ in a storage locker, where it had sat forgotten for more than 40 years.
An Andy Warhol artwork
The red Little Electric Chair silkscreen, part of Warhol’s Death and Disaster series, was gifted to Cooper in the 1970s by his girlfriend at the time, Cindy Lang, who commissioned Warhol directly. A similar version of the artwork sold at Christie’s in New York in 2014 for almost £8 million.
A flag from the Battle of Waterloo
In April, a father and son who deal in antique military memorabilia unearthed one of only two known flags from the defence of Hougoumont during the Battle of Waterloo. The flag was carried by the 2nd Coldstream Guards 15th company during battle in June 1815.
A flag from the Battle of Waterloo
The discovery was made after Gary Lawrence, who runs the business, bought a box of items at an auction in America. Despite being in fragments, 90% of the flag still exists. The flag is now with the conservation team at London's V&A Museum.
Gold bars hidden in a tank
One man got a surprise when he discovered £2 million of gold bullion hidden in the fuel tank of a model he had just purchased for £30,000. Nick Mead discovered the five gold bars in the Russian T54/69 while restoring it. In case you were wondering why he'd buy a tank in the first place, he's is something of a collector, owning an astonishing 150 military vehicles.
Gold bars hidden in a tank
The gold is believed to have been looted by Iraqi soldiers in Kuwait during the Gulf War, where they would have cut a hole in the fuel tank to hide it. After finding the haul the duo called the police, who are trying to see if it matches any stolen gold. If not, Nick can look forward to a golden future.
Francisco Goya etchings
A rare set of Francisco Goya etchings were found in a French Chateau where they were hidden away inside an antique book. The 200-year-old prints on the art of bullfighting fetched £500,000 at an auction in April. Francisco Goya is thought to be the most important Spanish painter of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
A 'peace' diamond
In March, a Christian Pastor in Sierra Leone discovered one of the world’s largest uncut diamonds. Weighing in at 709 carats, the diamond was passed on to the government in the hope that it would discourage any illegal sales and help the development of the country. At the beginning of December, jewellers Laurence Graff purchased the stone for almost £5 million. It has been confirmed that half the profits will be used to fund infrastructure projects to benefit the community.
The second copy of the US Declaration of Independence
Academics at Harvard University discovered a second parchment copy of the US Declaration of Independence at a records office in Chichester. The newly-discovered document dates back to the 1780s and is believed to have originally belonged to the Duke of Richmond. Experts are still trying to work out how the priceless treasure ended up here in Britain.
A long-lost Ferrari Daytona
In June, a one-of-a-kind Ferrari was discovered in a barn in Japan where it had been sitting for more than 40 years. The vehicle hadn't been seen for so long, many car enthusiasts thought that it didn’t exist. The 1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona is the only road-going example of the classic GT car built with a racing specification alloy body. The car was sold unrestored and in barn condition for almost £1 million in September.
NASA spacesuits
Two Florida college students stumbled on a pair of NASA flight suits at a thrift store in Titusville, Florida, paying a mere 20 cents (15p) per outfit. The American Space Museum has confirmed that the suits are authentic and the names match those of astronauts George Nelson and Robert Parker, who were part of space shuttle missions in the 1980s. The suits sold for $2,500 (£1,800) each in November at the American Space Museum Charity Auction.
A rare gold coin
A rare gold coin from the brief reign of Richard III was unearthed in September by Michelle Vall just a few miles from Bosworth Field, where the King died. It is thought that the coin may have belonged to one of Richards soldiers, who dropped it while fleeing from the battle. The coin is due to be auctioned off at an estimated price of £15,000. Just a handful of gold half angel coins survived the king’s two year reign and it has been dubbed a miracle that it has survived five centuries.
Nazi gold
A British boat crew found an astonishing £100 million worth of Nazi gold in a German shipwreck in July. The gold, which originates from South American banks, was on its way to Germany when the boat sank southeast of Iceland, just three weeks after the war began.
Nazi artefacts
Also this year, a massive horde of Nazi artefacts were found stashed away in a secret strongroom in a house in Argentina. The collection, believed to be the biggest in the country’s history, includes busts of Hitler and medical devices. A total of 75 objects were found in the collector's home in Beccar.
A historic treasure finally discovered?
Three amateur treasure hunters believed that they had found the location of the priceless Amber Room in October. Believed to have been the most valuable piece of art looted by the Nazis, the chamber, which is decorated in gold leaf, was constructed in 18th-century Prussia.
Mystery has shrouded the location for 70 years, but the group claim their evidence has traced the panels to under a cave in the Ore Mountains. They are now in the process of raising money to dig deeper into the caves.
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08 December 2017