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Coronavirus: French brothers strike gold under lockdown | Coronavirus: French brothers strike gold under lockdown |
(about 1 hour later) | |
It's fair to say that life under lockdown can be boring at times. | It's fair to say that life under lockdown can be boring at times. |
Most parents will have come to appreciate the increasingly tricky task of keeping the kids entertained. | Most parents will have come to appreciate the increasingly tricky task of keeping the kids entertained. |
But as the weather warms up, plenty of children will be looking to the garden for new ways to pass the time. | But as the weather warms up, plenty of children will be looking to the garden for new ways to pass the time. |
And for two French brothers, that resulted in a valuable discovery. | And for two French brothers, that resulted in a valuable discovery. |
Their parents decided to leave Paris when France imposed a lockdown and move to a family home in the town of Vendôme, south-west of the capital. | Their parents decided to leave Paris when France imposed a lockdown and move to a family home in the town of Vendôme, south-west of the capital. |
The boys, both aged about 10, asked to build a makeshift hut in the garden using branches, leaves and sheets. | The boys, both aged about 10, asked to build a makeshift hut in the garden using branches, leaves and sheets. |
Their father, a businessman in his 60s, told them that they could use their late grandmother's sheets, which were in a spare room. | |
When they went to collect them "two fairly heavy objects" fell out, Philippe Rouillac, a local auctioneer, told BFMTV. "They didn't pay attention to them and put them back." | When they went to collect them "two fairly heavy objects" fell out, Philippe Rouillac, a local auctioneer, told BFMTV. "They didn't pay attention to them and put them back." |
But the boys soon told their father about the discovery. | But the boys soon told their father about the discovery. |
"He asked them to go and get them," Mr Rouillac said. "But he initially believed they were knife holders that belonged to the grandmother." | "He asked them to go and get them," Mr Rouillac said. "But he initially believed they were knife holders that belonged to the grandmother." |
He contacted Mr Rouillac's company to double check and, after sending a few photographs, he was told the good news. | He contacted Mr Rouillac's company to double check and, after sending a few photographs, he was told the good news. |
The objects were not knife holders, but two gold bars weighing 1kg (2.2lb) each. | The objects were not knife holders, but two gold bars weighing 1kg (2.2lb) each. |
Both bars are now listed on the auctioneer's website with an estimated value of 40,000 euros (£35,800; $43,800) a piece. | Both bars are now listed on the auctioneer's website with an estimated value of 40,000 euros (£35,800; $43,800) a piece. |
It turned out that the bars were purchased by the grandmother in 1967 and even come with a proof of purchase. | It turned out that the bars were purchased by the grandmother in 1967 and even come with a proof of purchase. |
You might also be interested in: | You might also be interested in: |
Moreover, the price of gold has increased due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We are going to wait for the price of gold to rise a little more," Mr Rouillac said. "They could get at least 100,000 euros." | Moreover, the price of gold has increased due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We are going to wait for the price of gold to rise a little more," Mr Rouillac said. "They could get at least 100,000 euros." |
But the two brothers aren't willing to give up their discovery without some key assurances. | But the two brothers aren't willing to give up their discovery without some key assurances. |
"They said to their father: 'We're going to be able to have a pool,'" Mr Rouillac recalled. | "They said to their father: 'We're going to be able to have a pool,'" Mr Rouillac recalled. |
That's one way to keep them entertained. | That's one way to keep them entertained. |