The Kujawsko-Pomorski Provincial Conservator of Monuments has decided to transfer ownership of a collection of archaeological treasures known as the Bydgoszcz Treasure to the Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz (MOB). The application for this transfer was submitted by the Bydgoszcz institution at the end of July, with the formal decision being made on September 30, 2024.
According to the justification for the decision, the Bydgoszcz District Museum has met all the conditions outlined in the deposit agreement from January 22, 2018. They have carried out all necessary conservation work, provided appropriate storage and security conditions for the artifacts, and prepared an exhibition for the public.
The presence of the collection in the museum is seen as a way to continue its proper preservation, conservation, and accessibility. The Bydgoszcz Treasure has become a well-known and highly esteemed cultural artifact, symbolizing the museum, the city, and the region.
„We are filled with immense joy as museum staff, knowing that we have fulfilled the task entrusted to us and not disappointed the trust placed in us. We are grateful for the support and kindness shown to us throughout this lengthy process. We share this success with the residents of the city, the region, and the country. The Bydgoszcz Treasure is also a story about us, the people of Bydgoszcz, and our identity,“ says Anna Kornelia Jędrzejewska, the director of the Bydgoszcz District Museum.
The decision by the conservator opens up new possibilities for the museum. It marks a historic milestone in the institution’s history, akin to the gift given to them by Leon Wyczółkowski’s widow in 1937. The Bydgoszcz institution, registered in the State Register of Museums, has been able to ensure the safety of the valuable find for six years.
Furthermore, the MOB has an interdisciplinary scientific team that has been conducting intensive research on the Bydgoszcz Treasure from the beginning, trying to unravel some of its mysteries. This has resulted in the publication of a richly illustrated book titled „The Bydgoszcz Treasure: Permanent Exhibition at the Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz“ in 2024.
The Bydgoszcz Treasure is not only the thematic core of the exhibition and the subject of scholarly attention but also the focus of a comprehensive educational and outreach program related to the history of the Bydgoszcz mint. The museum now has the legal ability to apply for grants, opening up a new chapter in their research and exploration of the collection.
The mysterious box containing not only coins but also jewelry and religious items was discovered on January 2, 2018, in the Cathedral of St. Martin and St. Nicholas. The Bydgoszcz Treasure, as it came to be known, was deposited in the Bydgoszcz District Museum by the decision of the Provincial Conservator of Monuments. The first temporary exhibition was organized a month later, with a permanent exhibition concept being developed simultaneously.
The numismatic part of the Bydgoszcz Treasure consists of 486 gold coins from mints across Europe, including the Ottoman Empire. The collection includes Polish ducats, German Empire coins, Austrian, Hungarian, English, Danish, Swedish, Spanish, and Dutch coins, dating from the late 15th century to 1652. The collection also features various jewelry items, such as decorative appliques, silver and gilded buttons, rings, engraved gold rings, silver medallions, chains, religious items, and even an amulet.
The circumstances that led to the burial of the treasure under the church floor three and a half centuries ago remain unknown. The identity of the owner is also a mystery, leaving room for speculation about the reasons for hiding the valuables. The Bydgoszcz Treasure stands out as a unique and impressive collection, both in Poland and on a European scale.
The Bydgoszcz District Museum invites visitors to celebrate and explore the „Bydgoszcz Treasure“ exhibition at the European Money Center on Mill Island, now also known as Bydgoszcz’s Treasure Island. The museum staff express their gratitude to all who have been involved in this long-term project, emphasizing the dedication and effort that have preserved and revealed the secrets of the treasure.