Dies and leaves a secret hidden in the wall: gold coins worth almost $4 million found
Here’s the crazy story of how almost $4 million worth of coins was found in a wall.
A remarkable gold-coin collection, hidden behind a wall in the home of late French numismatist Paul Narce, fetched a staggering $3.8 million at auction in Paris—far surpassing its initial estimate of $2.3 million.
Narce, who passed away at age 89 in Castillonnès, France, had lived a modest life, channeling his resources into amassing over a thousand rare coins.
The collection included ancient pieces from Macedonia (circa 336–323 BC) and nearly complete sets of French royals—Louis XIV, XV, and XVI—including coins minted just before Louis XVI’s 1793 execution. In addition, ten cloth pouches each containing 172 gold “Napoléon” 20-franc coins were uncovered, along with several Gothic art items, amplifying the hoard’s value.
“Narce lived a modest life and didn’t see a lot of the world”
Narce, an unassuming collector with no direct heirs, shared his passion with his sister Claudette, who predeceased him. After both passed, their estate was overseen by a local notary who had learned of Paul’s hidden treasure through neighbourhood whispers. “Narce, who, lived a modest life and didn’t see a lot of the world, spent all of his money on his collection,” said coin expert Thierry Parsy in a statement previewing the sale.
This unexpected discovery—a treasure literally concealed behind a picture in a storage-room wall—stunned authorities, as neighbours were unaware of the extraordinary trove hiding in plain sight.
The Paris auction by Beaussant Lefèvre dramatically exceeded expectations, achieving a final sale price of about $3.8 million. The gold-franc lots, valued separately at around $115,650, will be auctioned later. With no children or will specifying beneficiaries, the proceeds are slated to be distributed among Narce’s distant relatives.
The mayor of Castillonnès emphasised the collection’s secrecy and the collectors’ discreet lifestyle, highlighting how an ordinary house concealed extraordinary wealth. “They were very polite, very modest people who lived in an ordinary house,” he explained.
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