Hidden Treasure: Demolition crew found gold coins, now face justice for the theft

When a demolition crew tore down an old home in Belgium, they never expected to uncover a hidden treasure buried within its walls.

But that’s exactly what happened in 2019, when three workers stumbled upon a glass jar tucked away inside the property — packed with nearly 70 gold coins reported Dhnet. What began as an extraordinary find quickly unraveled into a legal saga that’s still playing out years later.

A golden discovery — and a costly mistake

The workers, thrilled by their unexpected windfall, decided to sell the coins in Antwerp, one of Europe’s top precious metals markets. They walked away with €52,517 — roughly $56,000 USD at the time.

But the story didn’t end there.

Unbeknownst to them (or so they claimed), the treasure belonged to the former homeowner, who had passed away. His children, who were set to inherit the estate, were blindsided when they learned the coins had been sold — without their knowledge or consent.

Outraged, the heirs filed a formal theft complaint against the workers, arguing that the gold was rightfully theirs. The situation quickly escalated into a high-profile court case.

“A significant long-term investment” stolen

The heirs’ lawyer revealed the true extent of the loss: those coins would be worth a staggering €240,000 today — that’s over $255,000 USD.

“They didn’t just steal a few coins,” the attorney told Belgian outlet DHnet. “They robbed our clients of a significant long-term investment. This wasn’t some loose change — it was a financial legacy.”

The legal twist: what law applies?

While the complaint was filed in 2020, the legal process is still underway. The court has yet to issue a final ruling.

One of the complications is that a new property law took effect in Belgium in 2021, completely overhauling the Civil Code. But because the treasure was discovered in 2019, the case will be judged based on the older legislation that was in place at the time.

Legal expert Michiel Descheemaeker explained to Belgian news outlet HLN that this timeline is crucial: “The 2021 property reform changed everything — but this case falls under the previous rules.”

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