Pot of gold at work site in Netherlands

UTILITY WORKERS in the Netherlands struck gold while laying drain pipe at a construction site earlier this month.

The employees of Oasen, a water supply company, unearthed a collection of nearly 500 coins in a glazed cooking pot dating back to the 15th century, the NL Times reported — 12 of them gold and the remaining silver.

It was found on March 1 while pipes were being laid for the residents of a new town.

Textiles believed to have served as money bags were also found with the treasure, archaeologist Peter de Boer said. His team discovered that the coins were from the 1470s and 1480s, some of them displaying the image of King Henry VI of England, Pope Paul II and the Bishop of Utrecht, David of Burgundy.

“Every coin in this treasure is a story in precious metal,” de Boer told RTV Utrecht. “Every gentleman gave out his ‘business card’ by way of a coin, and therefore, there is a lot to discover… we now have a ‘pot full of stories.’ ”

The coins are currently being appraised but will be returned to Oasen and the people who own the land where they were found the rightful owners.