$1 million gold stash discovered in French rafters

[joboo]

A French Champagne producer is spreading the wealth with his workers after they discovered nearly $1 million in gold coins stashed away in the building's rafters, according to Agence France Press (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LkuXopgz1PsBMATgcSH9EA;_ylu=X3oDMTFocm9hZXB 0BG1pdANCbG9nIEJvZHkEcG9zAzIEc2VjA01lZGlhQmxvZ0JvZ HlUZW1wQXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTNlMmRvZmw1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDYmIzNWU1OTMtZTI4Ny0zMGIwLWIwM2MtYWU1NzIyOT k2ZDllBHBzdGNhdANvcmlnaW5hbHN8dGhlc2lkZXNob3cEcHQD c3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=0/SIG=144i72cdm/EXP=1330640937/**http%3A//www.calgaryherald.com/life/Champagne%2Bproducer%2Bfinds%2Bcoin%2Bcache/6154733/story.html%23ixzz1mV0Kf3EO) (AFP).

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/16/article-2102056-11BCBEAE000005DC-87_634x348.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/16/article-2102056-11BCA711000005DC-10_634x531.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/16/article-2102056-11BCA6C9000005DC-315_634x631.jpg


"One of the workers (was) attacking the building's ceiling with a crowbar when gold coins started to rain down on him, followed by sacks of gold," Francois Lange, head of Alexandre Bonnet (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LkuXopgz1PsBMATwcSH9EA;_ylu=X3oDMTFoYzYwOGR 0BG1pdANCbG9nIEJvZHkEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQmxvZ0JvZ HlUZW1wQXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTNlMmRvZmw1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDYmIzNWU1OTMtZTI4Ny0zMGIwLWIwM2MtYWU1NzIyOT k2ZDllBHBzdGNhdANvcmlnaW5hbHN8dGhlc2lkZXNob3cEcHQD c3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=0/SIG=11j5i6eci/EXP=1330640937/**http%3A//www.alexandrebonnet.com/) in Les Riceys France, told AFP.


It's not unusual to hear about treasure hunters combing the ocean's depth for gold (http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/can-treasure-hunter-keep-sunken-loot-28234168.html;_ylt=A0LkuXopgz1PsBMAUAcSH9EA;_ylu=X 3oDMTFobDF0N3FnBG1pdANCbG9nIEJvZHkEcG9zAzQEc2VjA01 lZGlhQmxvZ0JvZHlUZW1wQXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTNlMmRvZmw1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDYmIzNWU1OTMtZTI4Ny0zMGIwLWIwM2MtYWU1NzIyOT k2ZDllBHBzdGNhdANvcmlnaW5hbHN8dGhlc2lkZXNob3cEcHQD c3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3) and other precious metals lost at sea, but finding $1 million in your office attic is quite a steal. And a valuable one too, given that demand for gold has reached new heights recently. In 2011, just an ounce of gold was valued at $1,920.30 (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LkuXopgz1PsBMAUQcSH9EA;_ylu=X3oDMTFoNDIwNWM 2BG1pdANCbG9nIEJvZHkEcG9zAzUEc2VjA01lZGlhQmxvZ0JvZ HlUZW1wQXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTNlMmRvZmw1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDYmIzNWU1OTMtZTI4Ny0zMGIwLWIwM2MtYWU1NzIyOT k2ZDllBHBzdGNhdANvcmlnaW5hbHN8dGhlc2lkZXNob3cEcHQD c3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=0/SIG=130lcl0k8/EXP=1330640937/**http%3A//www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/gold-markets-idUSL5E8DF8TR20120216).


In all, 497 gold coins were unearthed (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LkuXopgz1PsBMAUgcSH9EA;_ylu=X3oDMTFoYmI3NnV sBG1pdANCbG9nIEJvZHkEcG9zAzYEc2VjA01lZGlhQmxvZ0JvZ HlUZW1wQXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTNlMmRvZmw1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDYmIzNWU1OTMtZTI4Ny0zMGIwLWIwM2MtYWU1NzIyOT k2ZDllBHBzdGNhdANvcmlnaW5hbHN8dGhlc2lkZXNob3cEcHQD c3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=0/SIG=143hfgiqn/EXP=1330640937/**http%3A//www.nbclosangeles.com/news/weird/NATL-1-Million-in-US-Gold-Coins-Fall-from-French-Rafters-139427708.html), with the majority literally raining down upon the workers who were busy renovating the building. Minted between 1851 and 1928, the coins have a face value marking of $20 each. However, together they are now worth an estimated $980,000, according to AFP.
Lange says he will keep half of the money for himself, while splitting half with the workers who made the discovery. No one knows for sure who placed the coins in the building, but AFP reports the building was previously owned by a wine producer in the 1930s.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/raining-gold-secret-1-million-gold-stash-discovered-203724430.html

(http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LkuXopgz1PsBMATQcSH9EA;_ylu=X3oDMTFoNjRmYmZ uBG1pdANCbG9nIEJvZHkEcG9zAzEEc2VjA01lZGlhQmxvZ0JvZ HlUZW1wQXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTNlMmRvZmw1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDYmIzNWU1OTMtZTI4Ny0zMGIwLWIwM2MtYWU1NzIyOT k2ZDllBHBzdGNhdANvcmlnaW5hbHN8dGhlc2lkZXNob3cEcHQD c3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=0/SIG=12dt1ac18/EXP=1330640937/**http%3A//media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/thesideshow/goldcoins.jpg)

[EE_]

So someone stashed away $9940 in gold that's worth a million today.
Imagine how excited the workers would have been if they found $9940 in cash? :(

[Twisted Titan]

9940 in 1851 currency......I'm sure any.shop would take it.

I almost had a parton balk when they saw a silver note as they thought it was fake

[solid]

Can anyone tell what type of coins these are? I'm very curious about the history, I bet it's quite a story. I would think the coins were stashed to keep the Nazi's from finding them. And folks wonder why we buy gold today...

[Libertytree]

I did a remodel once and found a silver quarter in a baseboard, I was tickled as hell with that, can't imagine finding the motherload.

[Uncle Salty]

Can anyone tell what type of coins these are? I'm very curious about the history, I bet it's quite a story. I would think the coins were stashed to keep the Nazi's from finding them. And folks wonder why we buy gold today...

Well, if they have a face value of $20, I would think they are US Gold Eagles. The French don't use dollars, they use francs. The wine company that had previously occupied the building, traded with the US, so probably got the coins as payment.

[madfranks]

Well, if they have a face value of $20, I would think they are US Gold Eagles. The French don't use dollars, they use francs. The wine company that had previously occupied the building, traded with the US, so probably got the coins as payment.

$20 pre-33 gold are technically Double Eagles. Depending on the date they look like this:

2269

2270

[gunDriller]

Can anyone tell what type of coins these are? I'm very curious about the history, I bet it's quite a story. I would think the coins were stashed to keep the Nazi's from finding them. And folks wonder why we buy gold today...

>> I would think the coins were stashed to keep the Nazi's from finding them.

yeah, that's my guess too.

in the one picture it looks like Philharmonics, Krug's, a Pamp Suisse, and a gold bar.

http://media.nbclosangeles.com/images/654*368/gold-coins.jpg

in the other picture it looks like some OLD sovereigns, looks like a relief of the Queen of England on a few pieces, though it could be the Dutch queen Beatrix.

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Fdi_WmrLfNBlC2N1sjjxdw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/thesideshow/goldcoins.jpg

i don't know why they call them "US coins".

[Libertytree]

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver (http://www.foxnews.com/topics/food-and-recipes/jamie-oliver.htm#r_src=ramp)’s is a gold mine, and it hasn't even opened.

Hundreds of safety deposit boxes containing $1.7 million were found in the cellar at an old bank in Manchester, England, which has been converted into the TV chef’s new eatery, Jamie’s Italian, the UK Sun (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/4127416/Jamie-Olivers-1m-cellar-find.html)reported on Tuesday.
The original owners of the boxes' contents could not be located so officials from the Bank of England broke them open and found jewelry, gold, and even master recordings by bands Joy Division and New Order. One box even held a gun, a source told the newspaper.
The conversion began in March of last year. is spread over three levels, including the basement vault, and opens to the public today.
The basement vault room has wall-to-wall original safety deposit boxes where "the people of Manchester stored their heirlooms, mementos and collectibles since the building's completion in 1935,” reads a description of the new in Oliver’s website.
Oliver won't be able to keep the loot. The haul was sent to Britain's Treasury department.



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/02/14/celebrity-chef-jamie-oliver-finds-treasure-trove-in-cellar-new-restaurant/#ixzz1mbF4lu4n

[Sparky]

$20 pre-33 gold are technically Double Eagles. Depending on the date they look like this:

2269

2270

Just look at those barbarous relics. Who would ever be interested in anything so old-fashioned?

[willie pete]

does that reported $1mil value take into account any numismatic value?

[joboo]

does that reported $1mil value take into account any numismatic value?

Doesn't look like it.

Freaking monster box of gold "collectors edition" falls down from the rafters....OMG.

[steyr_m]

Sweet, I love seeing stories like that. Better than always Doom-and-Gloom

[sirgonzo420]

Just look at those barbarous relics. Who would ever be interested in anything so old-fashioned?

Bernanke. He loves "tradition".