A clay jug containing hundreds of centuries-old coins have been discovered during restoration work on a 16th-century farmhouse in Eindhoven. The oldest coins date all the way back to 1680.

Dutch couple discover hundreds of coins when renovating home

The house, which was built in 1584, had been left empty for many years when husband and wife Willem van den Hurk and Philo van Gasselt decided to buy it last year. What came next was a long period of extensive restoration work, as they brought the property back to its former glory.

But when Willem started digging up the floor in, he came across a rather remarkable find, as Omroep Brabant reports. After hearing a loud and sudden crack, Willem realised he had broken an old clay jug, which held within it hundreds of silver coins. 

Ancient coins to be displayed by municipality of Eindhoven

The jug contained a total of 317 ancient coins, the oldest of which date back to 1680, while the more recent are from 1824. After likely hundreds of years underground, many of the coins are no longer silver in colour, but have instead turned green. Rather impressively, some of the coins are still in fairly good condition: "There's a coin that says “Louis XIV” with his head on it. You can see he had a huge hooked nose," Philo told Omroep Brabant.

While the damage to the coins means they have little financial value, the find remains culturally and historically significant. Since the incredible find, the local municipality has purchased the coins from Willem and Philo, so that they can be displayed in Eindhoven for everyone “to enjoy this heritage.”

Thumb: Svetliy via Shutterstock.com.