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10 times gold was found in everyday places

The people who struck gold in unexpected places
Gold coins found in a pub, Ireland: value unknown
Gold coins found in a pub, Ireland: value unknown
South African gold coins, UK: up to $133,000 (£100k)
South African gold coins, UK: up to $133,000 (£100k)
US gold coins in a London garden, UK: $154,000 (£98.2k)
US gold coins in a London garden, UK: $154,000 (£98.2k)
Gold bars in an airport bin, South Korea: $319,000 (£240k)
Gold bars in an airport bin, South Korea: $319,000 (£240k)
Crushed chalice in a potato field, UK: $333,000 (£250k)
Crushed chalice in a potato field, UK: $333,000 (£250k)
Gold hoard in a piano, UK: $665,000 (£500k)
Gold hoard in a piano, UK: $665,000 (£500k)
Gold bars in a back garden, France: $887,000 (£666k)
Gold bars in a back garden, France: $887,000 (£666k)
Gold coins hidden in the wall of a home, France: $3.5 million (£2.6m)
Gold coins hidden in the wall of a home, France: $3.5 million (£2.6m)
A home with hidden gold, France: $3.8 million (£2.9m)
A home with hidden gold, France: $3.8 million (£2.9m)
Gold Rush hoard buried under a tree, USA: $10 million (£7.5m)
Gold Rush hoard buried under a tree, USA: $10 million (£7.5m)
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Arsel Ozgurdal/Shutterstock

Gold bars in an airport bin, South Korea: $319,000 (£240k)

Despite South Korea's 'Finders Keepers' law, which allows the finder to keep the trove if the owner doesn't come forward in six months, the cleaner was not allowed to claim the gold because he was on duty at the time.

The unnamed airport worker missed out on the 5-20% of the gold's total price for which he would have been eligible, which would have been up to $64,000 (£48k).

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Charlotte Irwin

13 June 2025

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