Officials have announced that investigators looking into the theft of ancient gold coins from a German museum have made a significant discovery. It appears that part of the stolen treasure was melted down, as lumps of gold have been found. The break-in occurred on November 22 at the Celtic and Roman Museum in the town of Manching, Bavaria. The stolen coins, dating back to around 100 BC, were originally discovered during an archaeological dig in 1999. The suspects responsible for the theft were arrested on Tuesday, and their presence at the crime scene was confirmed by DNA found on an object outside the museum. Moreover, the suspects have been linked to previous break-ins in Germany and Austria dating back to 2014. This incident marks the first time the alleged gang targeted cultural treasures.
The stolen coins, along with a lump of unworked gold, were found during excavations of an ancient settlement in Manching. The authorities have described it as the largest collection of Celtic gold found in the 20th century. Currently, investigators are examining 18 lumps of gold recovered this week, each believed to result from melting down four coins. However, further analysis is still ongoing. Bavaria’s state culture minister, Markus Blume, expressed hope that the majority of the gold coins can still be recovered, as about 70 are expected to be irretrievably lost in terms of their cultural and historical significance.
The four German suspects, identified as a telecoms engineer, an accountant, a shop manager, and an employee of a demolition firm, have not provided any information to authorities since their arrest. They are currently being held in custody pending a possible indictment on charges of gang robbery, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Additionally, three of the suspects are suspected of involvement in 11 other robberies or attempted robberies between 2014 and 2022, targeting supermarkets, a vehicle registration office, and a casino.
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