These Gold Coins May Solve the Mystery of the ‘World’s Richest Shipwreck,’ Confirming Its Identity as a Legendary 18th-Century Galleon
Minted in Peru in 1707, the money bolsters the evidence that the wreck is the Spanish ship “San José,” which sank off the Colombian coast in 1708 with treasure worth billions on board
Astrophysicists Track Down the Mysterious Cosmic Origins of Gold and Other Heavy Metals in Our Galaxy
Researchers suggest powerful bursts from magnetars—collapsed stars with strong magnetic fields—may have contributed up to 10 percent of all elements heavier than iron in the Milky Way
The Ornate Sword That Napoleon Commissioned During His Rise to Power Is Heading to Auction
Prior to his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the French ruler gave the saber to one of his most trusted generals, whose family kept it for generations
Hikers Stumble Upon Gold Coins and Treasures That Could Be Worth $340,000
After discovering the 15-pound cache while hiking in the Czech Republic, the two men handed it over to a local museum
Tree Rings Bear Witness to Illegal Gold Mining Operations in the Amazon, New Study Finds
Mercury concentrations in fig trees could provide useful information about mining activity in the rainforest over time
How Dreams of Buried Pirate Treasure Enticed Americans to Flock to Florida During the Roaring Twenties
1925 marked the peak of the Florida land boom. But false advertising and natural disasters thwarted many settlers’ visions of striking it rich in the land of sunshine
See the Stunning Golden Jewelry, Amulets and Small Statues Unearthed at an Ancient Egyptian Temple
Found at the Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, the 2,600-year-old trove includes a necklace depicting a golden trio of Egyptian deities
Oldest Known Evidence of Lead Pollution Found in Ancient Greece
New research has uncovered the earliest traces of lead contamination caused by human activities, linking the development of ancient metal smelting practices to long-term environmental change
Hundreds Died When This Steamship Sank in the Pacific Northwest in 1875 With Gold Worth Millions On Board
A century and a half later, the sinking of the S.S. Pacific remains one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the region’s history
Archaeologists Discover 141 Ancient Gold Coins Depicting Nine Roman Emperors in Luxembourg
Three of the coins are particularly rare: They portray Eugenius, an illegitimate emperor who reigned for just two years in the late fourth century C.E.
The Alaska Railroad’s Golden Spike Hammered in by President Harding Will Return to Its Home State
The spike’s installation marked the completion of the Alaska Railroad in 1923. It’s spent most of the time since then in the hands of private owners
Art Thieves Blew Up a Dutch Museum’s Door to Steal an Ancient Golden Helmet From Romania
The blast took place in the middle of the night, allowing the burglars to abscond with four valuable objects connected to Romania’s cultural heritage
The Discovery of Gold on This Date in 1848 at Sutter’s Creek Kicked Off the California Gold Rush and Transformed America
The unquenchable demand for gold spurred a mass migration and fueled the genocide of Native communities
Exceptionally Well-Preserved Gold Ring Featuring ‘Venus the Victorious’ Unearthed on Ancient Road in France
In addition to the 1,800-year-old piece of engraved jewelry, archaeologists discovered a trove of Carolingian coins, medieval pottery and more
Why Has Gold Dazzled So Many Cultures Throughout History?
An exhibition in Brooklyn examines gold’s ubiquitous appeal across thousands of years through art, artifacts, paintings, sculptures and fashion
A Rare Coin Depicting Brutus, Caesar’s Infamous Assassin, Sells for $2 Million
Following the murder in 44 B.C.E., Brutus minted the gold aureus to promote his own image and celebrate his military victories
A Trove of Gold Coins Stolen From 300-Year-Old Florida Shipwrecks Has Been Recovered by Investigators
Contracted divers found 101 gold coins from the wreckage of a Spanish fleet in 2015, but they only reported 51 to authorities. Now, 37 of the stolen coins have been found
This Mysterious Gold Pendant Featuring a Misspelled Inscription Is an Early Medieval Imitation of a Roman Coin
A metal detectorist in England discovered the unusual piece of jewelry, which was likely made in the late fifth or early sixth century C.E.
Archaeologists Discover Engraved Gold Offering to Jupiter Dolichenu, a War God Revered by Roman Soldiers
The votive plaque was found amid the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress. Researchers think a temple dedicated to the mysterious deity may have stood nearby
A Treasure Hunt for an Ornate Golden Owl Buried in France Has Ended After 31 Years
The quest drew thousands of curious participants hoping to solve a series of elaborate riddles—and win a bejeweled statue worth an estimated $165,000
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