An extraordinary hoard of rare gold coins totalling 160 million coins or the so-called Traveller Collection has been discovered in Europe after being buried in the ground more than 50 years to hide it against Nazi treasure hunters during World War II. This hoard comprises 15,000 ultra-rare objects of over 100 inscriptions, and is the most valuable numismatic collection of its type to be auctioned as a block at once, starting November 6, 2025, at Numismatica Ars Classica (NAC) in Zurich.
The WWII-Era Burial Story
– The Traveller and his wife were acquired by a European collector in the 1930s after the Wall Street Crash, and they spent the following years of their life traveling across Europe/Americas and purchasing coins of historically important value, carefully recording every purchase.
– When the Nazi invasion was imminent, the collector buried the hoard in cigar boxes/aluminum cylinders on his grounds instead of being discovered and was instead killed shortly after (the place of discovery has remained unknown over the decades).
– It was found in the 1990s by Heirs and placed in bank strong-rooms, prior to NAC confirming/conserving the collection to go to auction- first British coins May 2025, Central Europe November 6.
Standout Coins in the Hoard
– 100 Ducat Ferdinand III (1629): 348.5g Habsburg gold giant (one of the largest in Europe), worth $1.35M; portrays armored Archduke in the middle of Thirty Years war.
– 70 Ducat Sigismund III (1621) 243g Polish gold, $471K; a product of Renaissance art in minting.
– Set of Qajar Tomans: 5 piece gold (late 18 th -early 19 th C) of 5 complete sets in the world, in Tehran/Isfahan, one set of 5 pieces (Ashmolean has one).
– May/November auctions are composed of British milled coins (Charles II-George VI), many of which have not been seen during the 80+ years or have not been recorded.
Timeline and Strategy of Auction
– Auction 162 (Nov 6, 2025) Zentrum hotel Beau-Rivage, Zurich; Central/Northern Europe focus, CHF 5M+ estimate; preview April London.
– 15 auctions of NAC (Zurich/London): multi-year series (15 auctions in 3 years); first May 2025 British coins doubled estimates (CHF 6.3M).
– Total insured, unknown heirs control sales; Arturo Russo of NAC: “Most valuable collection to be auctioned complete.”
What Makes This Hoard So Special
– Condition/Records Exceptional preservation; numerous coins unrecorded publicly 80+ years, some auction debuts.
– Diversity Accounts ancient to modern, 100+ regions; acquisition is not systematic, comparable to museum collections.
– Provenance Pieces are provenanced to 19th / early 20th C sales, WWII survival imposes narrative premium.
Abstract Table: Traveller Collection Highlights
| Coin/Item | Date/Weight | Estimated Value | Auction Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferdinand III 100 Ducat | 1629/348.5g | $1.35M | Nov 6, 2025 |
| Sigismund III 70 Ducat | 1621/243g | $471K | Nov 6, 2025 |
| Qajar Tomans (5-piece set) | 18th-19th C | Record set | Upcoming |
| British Milled Coins | Charles II-VI | CHF 6.3M (May) | Series 2025-28 |
FAQs
Q1: Why buried 50 years?
The Nazi invasion threat; the heirs rediscovered in 1990s after collector died after burial.
Q2: When/how auctioned?
Nov 6 Zurich (Auction 162); 3-year series in total of $160M.
Q3: Most valuable piece?
100-ducat Habsburg ($1.35M); the biggest gold coins of Europe.
