It’s the thrill of the hunt. Whether it’s finding a rare coin, or some other priceless artifact, there is nothing like discovering something that has been lost for centuries. In this article, I will share some amazing stories of incredible antique discoveries.
| Takeaways |
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| Archaeological discoveries provide valuable insights into past human cultures and civilizations. |
| The world of ancient artifacts and ruins is fascinating and continues to captivate people around the world. |
| From the search for lost treasure to the uncovering of long-lost cities, the thrill of the hunt is a timeless pursuit. |
| Understanding the history behind your antique treasures can make them even more valuable and fascinating. |
| Tips and techniques for finding hidden treasures during antique hunting expeditions can help you make the most of your adventures. |
The First American Coin
The first American coin, the 1787 Liberty Cap cent, was created by an act of Congress on April 2nd, 1787. The original designs came from Robert Morris and Pierre L’Enfant, who were both members of the Continental Congress at the time.
The original design was slightly different than what we see today: Instead of “Liberty” inscribed on it anywhere, there was a portrait with 13 stars above her head instead.
This was changed to match our modern-day understanding of what freedom means when John Adams took office as president after George Washington left office in 1797 this included adding “Liberty” to both sides since he believed that they were equally important (and still do today).
It should be noted that although copper is used for these coins today (which brings us back around full circle), they weren’t always made out copper; back then they were made out silver!
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A Hoard of Silver
When someone dies, their assets are passed to the next of kin. Sometimes, though, a deceased individual will leave behind something unexpected: an object of value that was never disclosed to anyone who knew them.
This can be especially true for collectors and dealers who acquire rare antiques but keep their treasures to themselves.
The case of one deceased collector is a great example of this phenomenon. In 2012—six years after his passing the man’s home was sold at auction by his estate after being left unoccupied for some time following his death.
While cleaning out the house before putting it up for sale, auctioneers found a hidden cache containing thousands of silver coins from 1425-1450 A.D., which had been minted in Northern Europe during the reigns of England’s Henry VI and France’s Charles VIIII (King Charles VII).
The total value was estimated at more than $1 million USD; however, because there were so many coins inside this hoard that no one knew exactly how much each coin was worth individually or collectively until they were sold at auction later that year!
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Andy Warhol’s Soup Can
Andy Warhol’s Soup Can, made in 1962 and sold for $82.5 million in 2013, is part of a series of 32 cans. The soup can painting is known as his most famous work and was one of many paintings that featured consumer products from the 1950s and 1960s.
A Rare Violin
You may have heard of Antonius Stradivarius, the famous violin maker who created some of the world’s most valuable instruments.
He made only about 1,000 violins in his lifetime—and one of them is called the Lady Blunt. It was bought for $1.8 million in 2010 and has since become one of the most famous violins in history.
Stradivari himself wasn’t sure why he made such good violins. When asked how he got his sound out of a piece of wood, he would reply “God alone knows.” This made him sound like an expert on things that aren’t known by anyone else as well!
It’s possible only one other person has ever found as many rare antiques as you: your grandmother’s old neighbor Mr. Jones.
He had been collecting old things since before you were born and was convinced that someday someone would discover their true value at auction (which they did).
The World’s Most Expensive Book
The world’s most expensive book is a copy of the Gutenberg Bible. In 2013, a copy of this giant book sold at auction for $4.9 million to an anonymous bidder.
It’s been owned by many people over the years, including the British King George III, who bought it in 1817 and loaned it to libraries around Britain before he went blind and had trouble reading it anymore.
Nowadays, there are still plenty of copies available for you to find at antique stores or flea markets—but if you manage to track down one as old as this one (it was printed in 1455) and you can afford its astronomical price tag? Go ahead and buy it!
You’ll be joining an elite group of collectors who include Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Bonaparte and Charles Dickens himself!
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Daniel Radcliffe’s Broomstick
A young Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the blockbuster movie series, was a dedicated fan of his character’s flying broomstick. In fact, he loved it so much that he actually bought one for himself! The only problem? It was too big for him to ride.
But that didn’t stop him from bringing his broom with him everywhere he went (spoiler alert: this included the 2011 Golden Globes).
After all those years of carrying it around with him everywhere and making sure no one accidentally stepped on it or sat on it during filming breaks, you can imagine how much wear and tear there was on poor little Harry’s toy.
So when Daniel decided to sell his beloved prop at auction in 2013, we imagine he wasn’t expecting anywhere near what he got! In fact, when all was said and done with bidding prices tallied up at Sotheby’s London auction house that year…
A Cleaning Service Finds a Fortune in Gold Coins
The coins, which are believed to have been buried in the 1930s and valued at $1.5 million, were discovered by staff of a cleaning company who were working at a Vancouver home.
The cleaned out all the cupboards and drawers, then found a small suitcase wrapped in newspaper dated 1933. Inside was $75,000 worth of gold coins but there was still more where that came from.
After discovering another stash of gold coins in a jewelry box at another house owned by the same family, workers phoned their boss with some exciting news: There may be tens of thousands more dollars-worth of buried loot!
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Hidden Among the Trash
The Thrill of the Hunt: Stories Of Incredible Antique Discoveries
In a friendly tone: The cleaning service was in the process of cleaning out the attic of a house in San Francisco.
They were coming across old trunks filled with old clothes, photographs and books that had been packed away since the 1930s.
When they came across a trunk filled with newspapers and magazines, they decided that it was time to fill another bin with trash.
But then one of them spotted something gold glinting through the papers. A closer look revealed that it was several gold coins wrapped up in plastic bags literally buried among all this trash!
It turned out there were over 2,000 five-dollar gold pieces inside those bags. Collectors would have paid millions for such a find!
In Plain Sight
In 1987, an elderly woman in a small town in Australia left her husband and moved to a nursing home.
Later that year, her husband disposed of the belongings she had left behind. Among these was a box filled with vintage Barbie dolls that he threw into the trash bin outside his house without realizing their worth.
In 1991, another man discovered these dolls while cleaning out his garage and decided to sell them at auction.
The auction company estimated that they were worth $10,000 each on their own but would sell as part of one group for much more than this amount due to their rarity. A collector bought all 43 dolls and received a very nice surprise when they were valued at $1 million!
Antique Barbie Dolls Reunite Lost Sisters
Imagine the thrill of the hunt: you’re searching for a particular antique, and then there it is. You get to take it home with you, to keep for yourself or pass along to others. It’s one of life’s little pleasures. For one family in California, this happened twice in just one week.
As they were cleaning out their mother’s storage unit after her passing, they came across a few boxes filled with dolls that she had collected as a child—and inside those boxes were two Barbies that no one in the family knew about!
The sisters had apparently lost these dolls when they were children themselves (but now we know where they went).
And because it was such an amazing discovery for them, their mother was able to see her daughters reunited with their beloved childhood toys before dying peacefully at home later that week.
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Conclusion
Antique hunting is a thrill, and it can be even more exciting when you find something truly special.
It’s amazing to think that these antiques have changed hands countless times over their lifetimes without anyone knowing what they really are. These stories tell us about the incredible things that happen when people put their minds to finding great treasures.
Further Reading
For more information on the exciting world of archaeological discoveries and ancient artifacts, check out these resources:
Artnet News: 2022’s Best Archaeological Discoveries: This article highlights some of the most significant archaeological discoveries made in 2022, including new insights into ancient cultures and the uncovering of long-lost artifacts.
Wikipedia: Ancient Discoveries: This Wikipedia article explores some of the most important discoveries made throughout history, including ancient art, architecture, and technology.
Business Insider Africa: 12 Amazing Archaeological Discoveries of 2022: This article showcases some of the most exciting archaeological finds of 2022, including the discovery of the world’s oldest limb amputation and a tomb filled with ancient treasures.
FAQs
What is an archaeological discovery?
An archaeological discovery is a find of a significant object or site that provides insight into past human cultures and civilizations. These discoveries can range from ancient artifacts and artwork to ruins of buildings and cities.
What are some famous archaeological discoveries?
Some of the most famous archaeological discoveries include the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in Egypt, the Dead Sea Scrolls in Israel, and the ruins of the city of Pompeii in Italy.
How are archaeological discoveries made?
Archaeological discoveries are typically made through careful excavation and analysis of sites that are known or suspected to contain ancient artifacts or structures. This process may involve the use of advanced technology like ground-penetrating radar or drones to identify buried objects.
Why are archaeological discoveries important?
Archaeological discoveries provide valuable insights into past human cultures, civilizations, and ways of life. They can help us understand how people lived, worked, and interacted with each other, as well as shed light on important historical events and developments.
Who makes archaeological discoveries?
Archaeological discoveries can be made by a variety of people, including trained archaeologists, amateur archaeologists, and everyday individuals who stumble upon something significant while exploring. In many cases, discoveries are made through collaborative efforts between professionals and community members.
Hi there! My name is Hellen James, and I’m here to talk to you about treasure hunting. I’ve been a fan of treasure hunting ever since I was a kid, and if you’re a fan of treasure hunting or just like the idea of finding a long-lost fortune, then this blog is for you.