What started as a simple home renovation turned into a once-in-a-lifetime discovery for a French man — and now, his story has sparked curiosity (and envy) thousands of kilometres away in India. While digging to build a swimming pool in his garden, the man stumbled upon a hidden stash of gold worth nearly Rs 7 crore, proving that sometimes fortune really is buried in your own backyard.
The golden discovery
According to a CBS News report, the resident of Neuville-sur-Saône, a quiet town in eastern France, was excavating his backyard earlier this year when he found five gold bars and several gold coins sealed inside plastic bags. Startled, he reported the discovery to local authorities.
Officials confirmed that the gold, valued at $800,000 (around Rs 7.07 crore), had no archaeological link and was therefore his to keep under French civil law. The find’s origins, however, remain a mystery — the previous homeowner had died years ago, leaving no record of any hidden fortune.
Legally his, and no strings attached
Investigations by French police revealed that the gold had been legally purchased and melted around 15 to 20 years ago at a local refinery. Each gold bar carried a traceable serial number, confirming it wasn’t stolen. Under France’s 19th-century civil code, treasure found by chance on one’s property belongs entirely to the finder — provided no one else claims it.
For the lucky man, that meant walking away with not just a pool, but a personal treasure chest.
Could something like this happen in India?
India also has had its own share of real-life treasure tales. From the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, where vaults revealed gold worth thousands of crores, to villagers stumbling upon ancient coins during farmland digging — stories of accidental finds occasionally make headlines.
However, unlike France, India’s Treasure Trove Act (1878) requires such discoveries to be reported to authorities, and ownership typically transfers to the government, not the finder unless the ownership is established. So, while a similar discovery here would make for a thrilling story, you might not get to keep it.
Across the world, several homeowners have stumbled upon hidden riches. A California couple found coins worth $10 million (Rs 88 crore) while hiking on their land in 2024, while a German resident discovered $150,000 (Rs 13 lakh) worth of gold bars hidden in his apartment. In Britain, a couple renovating their kitchen in 2022 found 260 gold coins later sold for nearly $1 million (Rs 88 lakh).
The golden discovery
According to a CBS News report, the resident of Neuville-sur-Saône, a quiet town in eastern France, was excavating his backyard earlier this year when he found five gold bars and several gold coins sealed inside plastic bags. Startled, he reported the discovery to local authorities.
Officials confirmed that the gold, valued at $800,000 (around Rs 7.07 crore), had no archaeological link and was therefore his to keep under French civil law. The find’s origins, however, remain a mystery — the previous homeowner had died years ago, leaving no record of any hidden fortune.
Legally his, and no strings attached
Investigations by French police revealed that the gold had been legally purchased and melted around 15 to 20 years ago at a local refinery. Each gold bar carried a traceable serial number, confirming it wasn’t stolen. Under France’s 19th-century civil code, treasure found by chance on one’s property belongs entirely to the finder — provided no one else claims it.
For the lucky man, that meant walking away with not just a pool, but a personal treasure chest.
Could something like this happen in India?
India also has had its own share of real-life treasure tales. From the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala, where vaults revealed gold worth thousands of crores, to villagers stumbling upon ancient coins during farmland digging — stories of accidental finds occasionally make headlines.
However, unlike France, India’s Treasure Trove Act (1878) requires such discoveries to be reported to authorities, and ownership typically transfers to the government, not the finder unless the ownership is established. So, while a similar discovery here would make for a thrilling story, you might not get to keep it.
Across the world, several homeowners have stumbled upon hidden riches. A California couple found coins worth $10 million (Rs 88 crore) while hiking on their land in 2024, while a German resident discovered $150,000 (Rs 13 lakh) worth of gold bars hidden in his apartment. In Britain, a couple renovating their kitchen in 2022 found 260 gold coins later sold for nearly $1 million (Rs 88 lakh).
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