Boars dug out a treasure of coins from the turn of 15th and 16th century

The finders called the preservationists and are eligible to the 100 percent finder's fee.

Archaeological treasure found near LikavkaArchaeological treasure found near Likavka (Source: Courtesy of Peter Ledaj)

Archaeologists have been researching interesting findings in the Liptov region. A married couple during a hike to the Choč mountain near Likavka made a great discovery of silver and two golden coins from the turn of 15th and 16th century, My Liptov wrote.

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The husband saw the coins in terrain that was dug out by boars. They did not touch it, but immediately contacted archaeologists. They waited for three hours at the spot.

Shallow hole

Archaeologists and preservationists are used to people who come to their offices and literally pour the coins on the table. The discovery near Likavka is unique and precious because experts have the opportunity to observe it at the spot of the finding. Coins were collected from an area of about two square metres.

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Read also: Archaeologists found treasure of silver Celtic coins Read more 

In the shallow hole, there was the broken clay bottom of a jug with coins that were, thanks to corrosion, attached to the remains of the fabric on the inner side of the jug. Nearby, there was a metal pot-lid.

The treasure was covered by a fine layer of soil. We can assume that the person who covered the coins was in hurry. The treasure was located near to an historical trade road.

The most beautiful he had ever seen

Martin Furman from Regional Monuments Board Žilina who was also in the team of experts who worked on the spot talked about the treasure as of the most beautiful archaeological discovery in his professional life.

Read also: Historical coins discovered in Sobotište Read more 

We can only guess who and why hid the coins into the ground. Neither the archaeologists have a clear answer.

“There could be several reasons. It is the treasure hidden either in 1527 or shortly after this year, or it at least looks like that by now. It is probably linked to turbulent year of civil war between Ferdinand of Habsburg and John Zápolya who were fighting to gain the Hungarian throne,” Furman explained, as quoted by My Liptov.

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Furman also pointed out that labourer earned between 6 and 10 silver coins per day in 16th century. “It is literary a fortune. Ordinary person could only hardly gain a golden coin.”

To be exhibited in the museum

The public will have also the possibility to see the treasure from Likavka. However, people should be patient as there are many steps to be taken before it finally get into the Museum of Liptov in Ružomberok.

Read also: Slovakia's TOP 10 archaeological findings in 2018 Read more 

Historical value of the treasure is unquantifiable, the economic price wil l be given by experts. The married couple will get a reward, as the law said. Monument Board should approve it and in this case, they can look forward to the full finding value.

“If a finder act in accordance with monuments law and let the finding at the spot and call the representatives of the monuments board who will pick up the finding using the methods of archaeological research, he or she has a right to finder’s reward of 100 percent of the finding given by an expert,” explained Furman, as quoted by My Liptov.

In this case, all the requirements were fulfilled. “During my 13-year-long practice in Žilina, I haven’t experienced anything like that.”

Furman dedicates his time of archaeologists also to numismatics. When he received the call, he was in upper Orava region and it took three hours to get to the spot on Saturday. His colleague Barbora Danielová from Orava Museum also helped when she left everything what she was doing, picked up the needed tools and went to the spot to document the treasure.

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