They found a 1 Euro-like coin while digging a sewer in Belgium. It turned out to be a part of $10.4 million gold treasure

What started as routine sewer work in Belgium took a surprising turn when construction workers digging beneath a former brewery found gold worth an estimated $10.4 million. The workers initially thought they had come across ordinary 1 Euro coins, but more digging revealed gold coins and bars. They stopped work and called the police, who secured and cataloged the discovery.They thought it be a 1 euro coin: The discovery happened during sewer workThe find was made in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, a Flemish community outside Brussels. Workers were putting in a new sewer pipe and had to remove part of the foundation. That was when they noticed something unusual in the ground.

Kobe, an 18-year-old worker at the site, told VRT that he did not immediately realize what they had found. “Our first reaction was actually disbelief, surprise. Of course, we didn’t expect to find gold,” Kobe said.

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He said the first pieces looked like 1 Euro coins. “When we did that, we suddenly saw something lying around,” Kobe said.

‘We found gold’Project leader Mario said the workers quickly realized this was not an ordinary construction find.He described the moment as a “crazy feeling” and recalled what happened after the workers spotted the first pieces.

“They shouted, ‘We found gold,'” he told VRT of his workers. “I went to look and took the gold in my hands. We also continued to dig up new coins and bars. Only then did what we had found really dawn.”

Mario then contacted his boss and the police.

Officers arrived at the site, recorded the discovery and later moved the gold to a “high-security federal government vault.”

Workers cannot keep the goldFinding the treasure does not mean the workers can take it home.

Under Belgian law, the rightful owner has five years to claim the gold.

Mario was asked whether he had ever thought about keeping the discovery for himself. He said the sheer amount of gold made that unrealistic, apart from the legal consequences.

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“It’s about so many coins and bars, that almost wouldn’t be possible. Besides, it would also be theft,” he told VRT.

Kobe still has one hope from the unusual find: a reward.

“That would be nice.”

Who owns the building?The building where the construction was taking place belongs to an organization that provides welfare support to the Flemish community.

The organization’s director said he hoped the money could eventually help people who need support. According to the BBC, he pointed to the “enormous need we experience daily.”

For now, however, the gold remains secured while authorities deal with its ownership.

Police issue warning to treasure huntersNews of a multimillion-dollar gold discovery at a construction site could easily attract curious visitors. Police have warned people against going to the location in search of more treasure.

The site remains fenced off and contains “several dangerous pits,” police said. They also confirmed that the gold discovered by the workers has already been removed.

“We hope this treasure ends up in the right hands and that this unexpected discovery positively changes many lives!” police said.