German town keeps 10 gold bars found while mowing grass

After the expiration of a statutory holding period, a small town in eastern Germany is allowed to keep a gold treasure worth tens of thousands of euros.

No one was able to credibly prove ownership of the 10 gold bars discovered by a municipal worker while mowing the lawn in October, Heiko Wersig, mayor of Bannewitz, told dpa.

"I received many, many emails, calls and letters," said the politician.

However, none of the alleged owners were able to provide the required proof, such as a valid purchase receipt and the serial numbers stamped on the bars.

With the six-month statutory holding period for found property having expired on April 17, the town near Dresden can now decide what to do with the gold.

A final decision is expected at a municipal council meeting next Tuesday, Wersig said. In any case, the plan is for community clubs to benefit from the treasure.

"Specifically, this concerns associations involved in youth work and in preserving local traditions and customs," the mayor added.

For now, the gold bars remains in police custody. At current gold prices, the hoard is worth around €40,000.