Gold hoard discovered by construction workers in Dendermonde, Belgium

A construction worker in Dendermonde, Belgium, discovered a significant hoard of gold while using a jackhammer at a work site. The find, initially thought by worker Kobe Phillips to be one-euro coins, was revealed to be 40 gold bars and over 4,000 gold sovereign coins.

Most of the gold bars appear to date back to the 1960s. The total value of the treasure is estimated to be between €9 million and $10 million. The Dendermonde Police have secured the items and are investigating the origin of the hoard to identify the rightful owners.

Under Belgian law regarding found items, individuals are required to report discoveries to the local municipality. If a legitimate owner does not claim the property within one year of a proper report, the finder may be entitled to ownership, provided all legal obligations and reporting requirements have been met.