Gold & the Con Man: Treasure Discovered

In a real-life adventure worthy of fiction, treasure hunters in Poland’s Świętokrzyskie Mountains (Holy Cross Mountains, northeast of Kraków) have discovered a cache of gold and silver coins dating back to the 17th century. 

Intrigued by legends of treasure hidden away by Antoni Jaczewicz, a notorious 17th century con man, the Świętokrzyska Exploration Group set out to determine the truth. 

What they found exceeded expectations: a hoard so significant that Sebastian Grabowiec, president of the Świętokrzyska Exploration Group, admitted that they had delayed their announcement for nearly two years due to the magnitude of the find.

At the end of the 17th century, a recurrence of bubonic plague hit Poland. Thousands of people, hoping to spare themselves and their families, turned to prayers and healers. Jaczewicz, who claimed he was endowed with divine powers by the Virgin Mary, exploited the sick and the desperate who sought his “healing” abilities. The stream of money flowing from his healing business was so great that he hired guards to protect his wealth.

Apparently, fleecing desperate people wasn’t enough for Jaczewicz. Soon, he sent his cadre of guards to rob traveling pilgrims and raid surrounding properties. Jaczewicz was eventually exposed and arrested. He escaped, was recaptured and sentenced to life in prison in 1712.

The legend of Jaczewicz’s treasure outlived him, shrouded in mystery until now.

The recovered hoard has been been given to the Historical and Archaeological Museum in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, with the intention of preserving the coins while they undergo analysis.

This find has been widely reported—you can read more about it at many online sites, including PolskieRadio.pl, Popular Mechanics, Explorers Web, and the Miami Herald.