In Turgok, Russia, 409 imperial gold coins were found under a house, revealing a more than 100-year-old mystery about wealth and survival. The treasure was discovered during excavations carried out by the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
It was hidden in a ‘kandyushka’, a traditional glazed ceramic vessel, and was buried under stone foundations. These coins, dating from 1848 to 1911, were mostly minted during the monetary reform of 1897. Experts believe it is a “return treasure”, and was likely hidden during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution of 1917, with plans to recover it later. Although historians have analyzed tax records and parish records for the 24 families who lived nearby, no one knows who owned this vast wealth.
It serves as a silent witness to what could have been for an unknown family.
Mystery still surrounds who buried the 409 gold coins in a bowl under a Russian house
The treasure itself is safe, but the story behind it remains a mystery. Historians at the Russian Academy of Sciences examined the site on Sadovaya Street, near the Church of St. Demetrius. They compared this site to local tax and residency records from the early 1900s. At that time, the area was home to a mix of people: merchants, an accountant, someone from the court, and members of the local clergy.
But after World War II, changes in house numbers and street layouts made it nearly impossible to link this foundation to one specific family.
Exactly what was in the bowl
The treasure represents a unique glimpse into the Russian Empire’s last economic hotspot. As reported in the Journal of Archeology, the total nominal value of the collection is 4,070 rubles. In 1917, this was an enormous amount, worth more than $530,000 worth of raw gold in today’s gold terms.
The coins are divided as follows: 387 worth 10 rubles each, another 10 worth 5 rubles each, and there are also 10 coins with a rare denomination of 15 rubles from the monetary reform of 1897.
In addition, there are two coins worth 7.5 rubles each. The oldest coin dates from the reign of Nicholas I in 1848, while the most recent coin dates from 1911. This timeline indicates that the owner spent many years accumulating this capital before it was buried by revolutionary events.
How the All-Russian Museum will display wealth
As stated by the Russian Academy of Sciences, the All-Russian Historical and Ethnographic Museum took over supervision of the collection. This was not a lucky find like many treasures; It came from a planned archaeological excavation. Because of this, scientists were able to closely examine the soil layers and ceramic vessels. The kandyushka, a crushed ceramic vessel, keeps the gold safe and dry. After completing the restoration work and cataloging of the coins, the museum aims to feature this treasure as the main attraction in its permanent exhibition.
