| Środa Treasure | |
|---|---|
| Skarb średzki | |
 Gold crown of the Środa Treasure | |
| Created | mid-14th century (deposited) |
| Period/culture | Middle Ages |
| Discovered | 1985–1988 Środa Śląska, Poland |
| Present location | Regional Museum in Środa Śląska, Poland |
TheŚroda Treasure (Polish:skarb ze Środy Śląskiej orskarb średzki) is a hoard of silver and gold coinage, gold jewellery, royalregalia and precious stones found in years 1985–1988 during renovation works in the town ofŚroda Śląska,Poland. The discovered artifacts date from the mid 14th century and comprise over 3,000 pieces. Today it is the property ofNational Museum in Wrocław and has been kept at the Regional Museum in Środa Śląska.
Gold and silver coins were discovered during demolition works and digging for the foundation of the local telephone exchange building in the town of Środa on 8 June 1985.[1][2] The authorities secured the original find (a vase filled with approximately 3,000Prague groschen),[1][2] however, no serious archaeological study was carried out at that time. Three years later, on 24 May 1988, during another demolition in the vicinity of the first discovery, another, even bigger find was reported (including silver and goldflorin coins).[1][2] Most of this new find disappeared before the site was secured by the authorities. In the following days, as enterprising individuals scoured the municipal landfill where rubble from other recently demolished buildings was deposited, reports of more discoveries started appearing; those include the first reports of jewelry.[1][2]
Archaeologists began to investigate the site, and the government announced a plan to buy back items that had been looted. Later, a criminal investigation was launched, targeting those who still refused to turn back the items they had taken. Although many items were recovered, it is agreed that there are still missing items. Looted items have been recovered intermittently.[3]
Over the following years, archaeologists and historians have speculated about the treasure's origins, while museums and wealthy individuals have competed for pieces of the treasure.
It is now agreed that the treasure belonged to the King (later Emperor)Charles IV of theHouse of Luxembourg. Around 1348, needing funds to support his claim to the titleKing of the Romans, Charles pawned various items to the Jewish banker Muscho (Moshe, Mojżesz) in Środa. The town was then part of theDuchy of Wroclaw (Breslau) and passed under reign ofBohemian kings in 1335.[1][2][4] What is certain is that no one ever reclaimed the treasure, which was left hidden somewhere in the town for hundreds of years.[1][2][4]
Various recovered items have been cataloged, and those that were damaged by the mechanical digger that uncovered them have been restored.[2] Some items were displayed as early as 1985.[2] Since 1995–1997 most of them have been distributed throughout museums inLower Silesia. The majority of the items are displayed in local museum of Środa Śląska, although in the past exhibits were held in museums including the Archeologicial Museum in Wrocław,National Museum in Wrocław (which supervises the museum in Środa),National Archeological Museum in Warsaw, as well as abroad, in the Museum of Artistic Craft inDresden,Germany and inValladolid,Spain.[2]
The treasure is considered immensely valuable, described by some as "one of most valuable archeological finds in the 20th century".[5] In 2006 experts noted that it is difficult to put a value on it, since there are few items of similar type being auctioned anywhere in the world.[6] One estimate from 2001 put the lowest value of the treasure at 50 million dollars;[7] a book published in 2005 put it at 100 million dollars.[8]
The most valuable elements of the treasure include:
