1 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Hidden Treasure from the Thirty Years’ War: Rare Silver Coins Found in Copper Cauldron in Brandenburg

A rare archaeological discovery in Germany has captivated historians: Silver coins dating back to the early 17th century have been found inside a copper cauldron during excavations at Gotthardtkirchplatz in Brandenburg an der Havel, a historic city in northeastern Germany. The treasure is believed to have been hidden around 1634, during the chaos of the Thirty Years’ War.

The discovery was made possible by a construction project for a new extension of the Youth Art Gallery Sonnensegel e.V., allowing archaeologists to investigate the site of a former half-timbered house. The building was abandoned and leveled in the 17th century — and now reveals a secret hidden for nearly 400 years.

½ Reichsthaler, Netherlands, 1618. Credit: Stefan Dalitz
½ Reichsthaler, Netherlands, 1618. Credit: Stefan Dalitz

Rare Coins from Across Europe

The kettle revealed imprints of coins measuring approximately 3 to 4 cm in diameter and 1.5 mm thick. The first coin discovered was a “Dicken” from Zug, Switzerland, dated 1610 and bearing the image of Saint Oswald. This initial find led the team to further sift through excavation debris.

In a remarkable twist, a volunteer monument conservator unearthed a half Dutch Reichsthaler from 1618 — the year the Thirty Years’ War began. The final coin found was a city coin from Hamburg, dated 1634, featuring the name of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II, who also ruled as King of Bohemia.

The wide geographic spread of the coins — from Switzerland, through the Rhineland, to Hamburg — raises compelling questions. Why were only three coins buried in such a large kettle? And what prompted the residents to hide them in the first place?

1 Thaler, Free City of Hamburg, 1634. Credit: Stefan Dalitz
1 Thaler, Free City of Hamburg, 1634. Credit: Stefan Dalitz

A Glimpse into Everyday Life and Forgotten Histories

Beyond the coins, the excavation uncovered further evidence of the site’s historic use. Fragments of non-ferrous metal sheets, small slag pieces, and solder droplets suggest that a metalworker or belt-maker once lived and worked in the home. These traces of craftsmanship provide a unique glimpse into the trades practiced during the early 17th century.

Even older layers revealed signs of prehistoric settlement dating back to the post-Ice Age period. Soils from the 12th century were also preserved, showing the Gotthard Church was originally built on an elevated site. An associated medieval cemetery extended across the present-day buildings, used longer than previously thought. Remarkably, the oldest burial uncovered was in a tree-trunk coffin of Slavic origin.

1 Dicken, City of Zug (Switzerland), 1610. Credit: Stefan Dalitz
1 Dicken, City of Zug (Switzerland), 1610. Credit: Stefan Dalitz

A Treasure That Sparks Questions

This rare silver find adds another chapter to Brandenburg’s rich historical tapestry. Yet it leaves behind unanswered questions about life during the Thirty Years’ War and the people who lived — and hid their treasures — at Gotthardtkirchplatz.

Though small in number, the silver coins and the copper cauldron that held them offer a powerful connection to a time of war, uncertainty, and survival. Their discovery invites both scholarly interest and public fascination with Brandenburg’s hidden past.

Brandenburgisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologisches Landesmuseum

Cover Image Credit: The excavation site. Credit: Joachim Müller

Related Articles

1,800-Year-Old Sanctuary to Mithras discovered in Spain

8 February 2023

8 February 2023

Archaeologists excavating at Villa del Mitra in Cabra, Spain, have uncovered a sanctuary dedicated to the god Mithras, along with...

For the first time, a Viking Age grave rich in artifacts has been found in Norway’s capital city, Oslo

23 December 2022

23 December 2022

A Viking Age grave rich in artifacts has been discovered for the first time in Norway’s capital city, Oslo. The...

British archaeologists unearth the 1200-year-old man-made island

13 February 2022

13 February 2022

A team holding excavations and archaeological surveys on the historic Al Sayah Island in Muharraq, Bahrain found that it’s ‘man-made’,...

Archaeologists revealed Urartian King Menua second temple in Van excavations

22 December 2022

22 December 2022

The second temple of King Menua as well as a chamber tomb were unearthed during the excavations carried out this...

Portugal’s Enigmatic Roman Building “Tower of Centum Cellas”

4 February 2024

4 February 2024

The Tower of Centum Cellas (also known as the “Tower of St. Cornelius”), located in the Mount of Santo Antão...

In France, a burial with six ankle bracelets was uncovered

22 December 2022

22 December 2022

An individual bedecked in copper jewelry was discovered during the excavation of a protohistoric necropolis in Aubagne, southeastern France. The...

Statue heads of “Aphrodite” and “Dionysus” were found in Aizanoi Ancient City in Turkey’s

30 October 2021

30 October 2021

The statue heads of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and Dionysus, the god of wine, were unearthed in...

Researchers may have uncovered the ruins of one of the largest ancient cafeterias for a Buddhist temple

9 February 2025

9 February 2025

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery at the site of the Yamashiro Kokubunji temple, revealing what is believed to be...

In Bergama, the City of Greek Gods, the People Kept the Cult of Cybele Alive

25 August 2021

25 August 2021

The figurines of Cybele, the goddess of the fertility of Anatolia, and the presence of sanctuaries unearthed in the Ancient...

A section of one of Britain’s most important Roman roads unearthed under Old Kent Road in south-east London

15 November 2024

15 November 2024

Archaeologists have found a section of a Roman road under Old Kent Road in south-east London, part of one of...

Unlucky medieval woman underwent at least two skull surgeries in Longobard Italy

14 February 2023

14 February 2023

A detailed examination of the skull of a woman who lived at the medieval settlement of Castel Trosino in central...

Scientists Uncover 22,000-Year-Old Evidence of Prehistoric Transport

9 March 2025

9 March 2025

In a remarkable glimpse into the ingenuity of our early ancestors, recent research reveals that 22,000 years ago, humans may...

Remarkable Roman Villa Full of Strange Artifacts Discovered from a Bronze Age Site in England

3 April 2024

3 April 2024

Archaeologists have uncovered a “richly decorated” remarkable Roman villa complex during excavations at Brookside Meadows in Grove, a village in...

Archaeologists made a remarkable discovery in Kosovo: Evidence that the great Byzantine Emperor was of Dardanian origin

19 August 2023

19 August 2023

A mixed team of international and local experts led by Professor Christophe J. Goddard has unearthed a monumental inscription of...

“Ladies of Anavlochos”: Crete’s Puzzle in Pieces

9 May 2025

9 May 2025

Perched high on the rugged slopes of Mount Anavlochos, overlooking the azure expanse of the Mediterranean Sea, lie the silent...