Åšroda Treasure

The treasure trove of Środa Śląska ( German gold treasure of Neumarkt, Neumarkt also treasure ) was found in 1985 and 1988 excavations in the city Środa Śląska ( Neumarkt ) in the Province of Lower Silesia in Poland.

Origin and Description

Neumarkt, which was first mentioned in 1223, came after the division of the Duchy of Silesia 1248/51 to the Duchy of Wroclaw. Meanwhile, Duke Henry VI. transferred it in 1327 as a fief to the Bohemian king John of Luxembourg, which was after the Treaty of Trenčín 1335 ruler of the whole of Silesia. After his death in 1346 he was succeeded as king of Bohemia in 1347, his son Charles IV

In 1985 discovered gold treasure of Neumarkt was discovered on a construction waste space on the outskirts of Środa Śląska. The debris came from demolished houses in the old town of Neumarkt. Large parts of the treasure were stolen in finding, however, could be partially procured. When demolition of houses in 1988, again a find was discovered, which was probably damaged only during the excavation.

The gold treasure consists of gold and silver coins, which were in a 33 cm high clay jug, numerous jewels and a crown. It is possible that the crown of the first wife of Charles IV, Margaret of Valois was Blanca. All objects were probably the Neumarkt Jewish merchant Muscho pledged by Charles IV, who had to raise money for his coronation itself. Presumably he had left the city because of a plague epidemic and previously buried the treasure under his homes. Individual parts are located in the Regional Museum of Środa Śląska.

Gold brooch

Literature (selection )

• Jerzy Pietrusiński: ruler jewelry from the treasury of Luxembourg in the stash of Neumarkt in Silesia in King John of Luxembourg (1296-1346) and the art of his era. Praque 1998, pp. 189-200 digitized PDF
• Zdzisław Skrok: Skarby Polski, Warsaw 2002, ISBN 83-11-09499-3
• Tomasz Bonek: Przeklęty skarb. Opowiesc o klejnotach wartych 100 milionów dolarów, które w PRL wyrzucono na śmietnik, Wrocław 2005, ISBN 83-922160-0-8