German municipality employee finds 40,000 euros in gold bars while mowing lawn

An unusual discovery was made in the small German town of Bannewitz, Saxony, when a municipal employee stumbled upon ten gold bars valued at around 40,000 euros. The employee found the bars while mowing the grass near a rainwater retention basin in October 2025.

The discovery initially consisted of eight small, sealed packages, with two more found later by municipal officials. The gold bars, each weighing approximately 28 grams, were scattered in a fan-like pattern. Their original packaging, complete with manufacturer details and serial numbers, prompted a police investigation into the circumstances of their abandonment. Authorities considered possibilities such as the gold being thrown from a moving vehicle or linked to criminal activity, but the investigation found no connection to any illegal acts.

Over the following months, the municipality received between 12 and 15 claims for the gold, with explanations ranging from the bars falling out of a pocket during a walk to being part of a crashed drone's payload. One local woman even suggested a connection to a "grandparent scam," but investigations ruled this out.

Under German law regarding lost property, the owner had a six-month window to prove ownership. This deadline passed on April 17, 2026, without any successful claims. Consequently, the gold has now officially become the property of the Bannewitz municipality. Mayor Heiko Wersig announced that the funds from the gold's sale will be used to support local civic organizations and projects.

“

The municipality received between 12 and 15 different requests.