On Tuesday, a huge hoard of ancient Celtic gold coins was stolen from the Celtic and Roman Museum in Munching, Germany, according to the Bavarian police. Authorities estimate the value of the coins, which together weighed about 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds), at more than $1 million.

“The loss of the Celtic treasure is a catastrophe,” explained the Minister of Science and Arts of Bavaria, Markus Blume, to the German news agency dpa. “As a testament to our history, gold coins are irreplaceable.”

483 coins were first found in 1999 in ancient Celtic settlement known as the Oppidum of Manching. Archaeologists quickly realized how sensational the find was: the coins represent the largest Celtic gold find of the 20th century. The hoard is also the subject of ongoing research into Celtic trade networks.

The largest Celtic gold find of the 20th century was found near Manhing in 1999.
(Photo by Frank Mächler/dpa via Getty Images)

CLIMATE ACTIVISTS THROW FLOUR AT WARHALL-PAINTED BMW

The This is reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung that the circumstances of the theft were straight out of a Hollywood movie. To avoid triggering the alarm, the thieves cut the telecommunications cables, causing the internet and telephone service to be cut off throughout Manxing.

Robbery Reportedly lasted only 9 minutes.

“The museum is actually a place of strict regime. But all connections with the police have been severed,” explained the mayor of Munching, Herbert Nerb, to the Bavarian newspaper. – Professionals worked here.

Police are asking for witnesses who may have seen suspicious persons near the museum or have other information that could lead to the discovery of the treasure.

The Celtic and Roman Museum is pictured in the evening light in Munching, Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.

The Celtic and Roman Museum is pictured in the evening light in Munching, Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.
(Armin Weigel/dpa via AP)

Rupert Gebhardt, who heads the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection in Munich, estimated the value of the treasure at around 1.6 million euros ($1.65 million). “The archaeologists hope that the coins will remain in their original state and will reappear at some point,” he said, adding that they are well documented and will be difficult to sell.

“The worst case, melting, will mean a total loss for us,” he explained, noting that the material value of the gold itself would be around 250,000 euros at current market prices.

INDIAN COURT SENTENCED INDIAN GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON

The Manhing theft is just the latest in a series of thefts at the museum suffered Germany in recent years.

In November 2019, thieves raided the Green Vault in Dresden, one of Europe’s largest collections of treasures. The estimated value of the valuables stolen during the theft is about 100 million dollars. In January of this year, the trial of six Germans accused of theft.

Prior to this, in March 2017, the Great Maple Leaf, a gold coin believed to be the second largest in the world, was stolen from Berlin Bode Museum.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

Authorities were unable to recover the items stolen during the burglary.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Source link