The search for treasures It is often associated with pirate stories or epic adventures, but for farmer Valdomiro Costa, this journey began on land close to his home, in Conceição do Tocantins.
Armed with a used metal detector, the farmer found a clay jar that hid more than he could have imagined.
A surprising discovery
On the first day of his search for precious objects, Valdomiro Costa came across a buried clay pot.
Initially disappointed, he had no idea of the historical richness he was about to discover.
When he opened the jar, he found more than 200 ancient coins, triggering a reversal of his initial perception.
“I didn’t even see ‘connection’ [importância]. My intention was to find gold. I said ‘ah, it’s not worth anything. Tomorrow morning I’m going to hunt for gold’”, confesses Valdomiro in an interview with the G1 portal.
Valdomiro and his son, with the treasure found – Image: TV Anhanguera/Reproduction
What seemed like an initial disappointment turned out to be a true historical treasure. His son, Raelson Costa, realizing the historical potential of the find, sought help from a History teacher.
Professor Janilde Cursino, excited about the coins, realized the historical importance of the find when she saw that the coins they dated back to 1816, dating back to the Colonial and Imperial Period of Brazil.
The research revealed that, among the 206 bronze coins, one silver coin stood out, called ‘patacão’, valued at 960 réis.
After the authenticity of the treasure was confirmed by the Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan), Valdomiro Costa, now aware of the historical value of the find, kept the coins with him, while the ceramic pot was transferred to the Conceição do Tocantins Museum.
What will be the future of this unearthed treasure?
With the authorized sale of the coins by Iphan, Valdomiro decided to store the assets in a bank safe in another city, waiting for the ideal moment to decide what to do with this historical treasure.
His motivation is clear: to provide better opportunities for his family, especially his children, amid challenging economic conditions.
The discovery, which dates back to the time of the gold cycle in Tocantins during the Colonial Period, adds an intriguing page to local history.
Still shrouded in mystery, the identity of who buried the coins remains unknown, adding a layer of fascination to this exciting chapter in the life of farmer Valdomiro Costa.
