Archaeology News: Discovery of 17th century coins may prove legend of infamous Polish conman actually true

 

Discovery of 17th century coins may prove legend of infamous Polish conman actually true

According to local legend, conman Anthony Jaczewicz pretended to have healing powers to trick the people of Poland during a deadly plague.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, MAY 14, 2024 

https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-801089

One of many coins unearthed in the mountains of central Poland that experts believe may have belonged to a notorious 18th-century conman. / Credit: Wojciech Siudowski / Kielce University via Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments in Kielce© Provided by CBS News

Gold and silver coins from the 17th and 18th centuries were discovered in Poland, according to an official cited by CBS News on Monday. The coins are thought to have belonged to the notorious Polish fraudster Anthony Jaczewicz, a figure famous in local folk law.

"The coins we recovered may be part of this legendary treasure collected by Jaczewicz," said Sebastian Grabowiec, who heads the exploration group that found the coins, in comments to the government-backed Polish science organization PAP. 

The coins now sit in an archaeological museum in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski.

In the Świętokrzyskie Mountains of Poland, a medieval treasure hoard belonging to a legendary fraudster sat untouched for centuries. Jacek Ulinski via Unsplash (photo credit: Miami Herald)

The myth of Anthony Jaczewicz

Thought until now to be a local legend, the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments in Kielce have begun analyzing the coins to see if the myths were, in fact, fact. 

The hoard included multiple different types of coins made from both silver and gold, suggesting they were given as payment or an offering to the fraudster, officials said. Screengrabs from Wojewódzki Urząd Ochrony Zabytków w Kielcach's Facebook post (photo credit: Miami Herald)

Jaczewicz reportedly Świętokrzyskie Mountains around the year 1708, where he established something resembling a settlement at the same time a widespread and deadly plague hit Poland.

Using the plague to his advantage, Jaczewicz used his position as a preacher to spread around that he had healing powers.

Made desperate by the worsening health situation, Jaczewicz was said to have amassed a small fortune as people flocked to him for aid.

The con was said to be so successful that  Jaczewicz was able to hire security who often stole property from others in the settlement.

Jaczewicz was later captured by aristocrats, but escaped detainment only to be captured again and tried in 1712 by a court in Krakow.

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