This astonishing find is linked to the infamous hermit scammer, Antoni Jaczewicz, who notoriously claimed he was endowed with divine powers by the Virgin Mary herself.
Inspired by tales of Jaczewicz's mountain hermitage—turned fortress complete with armed guards—detectorists set out to uncover the truth behind the myth. What they found exceeded expectations: a hoard so significant that Sebastian Grabowiec, president of the Świętokrzyska Exploration Group which made the discovery, admitted they delayed their announcement for nearly two years due to the magnitude of the find.
The con-man, healer, hermit, and his gold
Jaczewicz's tale is a blend of cunning and mystique.
At the end of the 17th century, Poland was hit by another wave of the bubonic plague. Thousands of people, wanting to pray for health, began turning to people who claimed to be healers.
Jaczewicz was allegedly one of the con-men who exploited the sick and the desperate who sought his "healing" abilities, amassing wealth that led to his eventual arrest and escape. Despite his recapture and life sentence in 1712, the legend of his treasure lived on, shrouded in mystery until now.
Gold!
The most recent and captivating piece of the hoard, a 1648 gold ducat from Hamburg featuring the Madonna and Child, was discovered by Sławek Badowski. This coin, potentially used by Jaczewicz as a medallion, ties back to his claims of divine connections.
The hoard has been secured and transferred to the Historical and Archaeological Museum in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski for further study and conservation, ensuring that these historical artifacts are preserved for future generations.
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Source: Interia, RMF24, TVP Kielce