According to the
report from the BBC, the unnamed heir discovered the glittering hoard in a
variety of inventive locations, including under piles of linen and in the
bathroom.
"There were
5,000 gold pieces, two bars of 12kg and 37 ingots of 1kg," auctioneer
Nicolas Fierfort told AFP.
The treasure is
worth an estimated €3.5m ($3.7m; £3m). Mr Fierfort said
he had visited the house in Evreux, Normandy, to value furniture the new owner
was selling. He said he totally
overlooked the gold, which was "extremely well hidden".
The coins and gold
bars only came to light when the house's new owner started moving things
around.
First, he found a
tin box of coins screwed to the underside of some furniture. Then came more,
carefully concealed in a box meant for a bottle of whisky.
Finally, the man
unearthed a staggering pile of gold bars - each weighing 12kg. "At that
point he called his solicitor to make an inventory," Mr Fierfort said.
According to
certificates found in the deceased's estate, the gold was legally purchased in
the 1950s and 1960s.
It has already
been sold on to buyers in France and overseas.
However, local
newspaper La Depeche, which first reported the story, said the golden hello may
come with a sting.
The finder will be
liable for 45% inheritance tax and, if the original owner did not declare his
or her assets, a further three years of back taxes.
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