Top 13 Most Wanted Lost Objects In The World Today

Top 13 Most Wanted Lost Objects In The World Today. Photo KnowInsiders

The world is full of incredible objects, many of which date back hundreds, thousands and even millions of years. Some of these treasures are now missing, leaving the next chapter of their fascinating stories unwritten. From a sacred cup believed to have once held the blood of Jesus Christ to the most ostentatious Easter eggs of all time, here are 13 of the most wanted lost objects in the world!

Top 13 most wanted lost objects in the world today

1. Barber Dimes

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Normally, you wouldn’t think a stash of 10-cent coins would be of much value. But what if those coins were worth a lot than their nominal value and there’s literally a truckload of them?

Even though millions of 1907 Barber dimes were minted, few remain which are in good condition. There’s a story about a wagon train which left Denver for Phoenix in 1907 carrying six barrels filled with these coins – but the shipment never arrived. The mystery itself is interesting enough – some people think the wagon train was attacked by bandits, others speculate that it fell to the bottom of Colorado’s Black Canyon while trying to navigate the difficult mountain trails – but the value of the shipment makes it even more appealing. Provided the coins are still in good condition, a few thousand of them could be worth millions of dollars today, especially with the added allure of their strange disappearance all those years ago.

2. Romanov Easter Eggs

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Peter Carl Faberge was a Russian jeweler of French descent. He is known for the exceptional quality and beauty of his work and especially for the popular Faberge Eggs.

The royal tradition of the Faberge Eggs began with Tsar Alexander III who in 1885 ordered a decorative Easter egg from Faberge’s studio as a gift for his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna.

When she received the gift, Maria Feodorovna saw an ordinary egg, made from white gold. But the emperor had prepared several surprises within the egg. As she opened it, she found a golden yolk. In a similar way to the Russian matryoshka, the egg had more surprises waiting to be found – the yolk was to be opened to reveal a golden hen with ruby ​​eyes.

Inside the golden hen, there was a miniature copy of the imperial crown made of gold and diamonds, as well as a small ruby ​​for the Empress to wear on a chain around her neck. This original egg remains in history under the name “Hen”.

From this day onward, the crown would have Faberge make one egg per year for Alexander III until his death. This tradition was continued by his successor Nicholas II who, in total, ordered 44 more eggs.

The exact number of the eggs remains unknown since several were made for other rich Russian families. It is believed that there were around 70 in total but the mystery here is that 8 of the royal eggs have gone missing.

Each of the surviving Faberge eggs is worth millions of dollars which means that the ones that are missing would be worth even more.

3. The Golden Owl

On the night of April 22 to 23, 1993, at 3 a.m., a man buries an object somewhere in France. The man, who calls himself Max Valentin, has just concealed a bronze owl statue, an artifact — at least this is what was believed at the time. The original, a gold and silver owl covered with diamonds worth 1 million francs (150,000 euros), was somewhere in a safe — a real treasure.

To recover it, treasure hunters must solve eleven enigmas, written like parables, contained in a book of about 60 pages published a few weeks after the nocturnal burial: On the trail of the golden owl signed by Max Valentin and Michael Becker, two accomplices who joined forces.

The first — no one knows who he is at first — hides under a pseudonym. The second is an obscure artist. Becker illustrated the book, and sculpted the golden owl. The legend is on: soon, thousands will be looking for the precious bird.

READ MORE: Top 100 Most Valuable Brands in the World

4. The Holy Grail

The Holy Grail is the holy grail of lost treasures. The vessel from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper has been an obsession of fortune seekers and religious zealots since at least the 12th Century. Drinking from the grail is said to grant healing, eternal youth, or maybe eternal happiness. King Arthur and Perceval quested for it. The Nazis searched for it. So did Indiana Jones, Monty Python, and Nicolas Cage. The Nazis thought it was in Catalonia. Others say it’s in Scotland. Or England. Or maybe Minnesota.

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In 2014, archaeologists Margarita Torres and José Ortega claimed to have found the grail in a basement museum at the Basilica of San Isidoro in León, Spain. Although carbon dating indicates that Torres and Ortega’s grail indeed is a very old goblet, whether it’s the one true grail can’t be determined. Therein lies one of the main problems with grail-location: There are 200 purported grails in Europe alone. Who could say whether any of them is the real one?

The Bible offers no clue what the grail looked like. Matthew 26:27-28, the only mention of it, reads “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them [the disciples], saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

5. Atahualpa’s Gold

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When the Conquistadors arrived in the New World about 500 years ago, they were shocked by how rich the local kingdoms were. Before these locals knew what hit them, small but determined (and technologically superior) groups of Spaniards started looting and conquering the area (the word conquistador literally means conqueror).

Francisco Pizarro led such a group to modern-day Peru, to the Inca Empire led by Atahualpa. Though heavily outnumbered, Francisco Pizzaro and his men managed to get the upper hand through the use of such newfangled military equipment as firearms and horses. Atahualpa was captured in an ambush and offered to pay (literally) a room full of gold and twice the amount in silver for his release, but was executed before the deal could be completed. For centuries now, people have been searching for the vast treasure assembled by the Inca to ransom their king, but save for a few items, nothing substantial has ever been found.

READ MORE: Top 9 Countries That Are The Largest Gold-Producers In The World Today

6. Ark of the Covenant

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The Ark of the Covenant undoubtedly remains one of the most mystical objects mentioned in the Bible. Everyone remembers Spielberg’s immortal classic “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, where the brave Indiana Jones went through great adventures to discover the priceless artifact. But what exactly was the ark?

According to the descriptions in the Bible, it was a chest of acacia wood with a gold casing, which symbolized the presence of God among the people. Inside, was kept a golden pot with “heavenly manna”, Aaron’s rod, and two plates with God’s commandments written on them, received by the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai.

The ark was carried by the Jews to the Promised Land. By his supernatural powers, Yahweh’s people were invincible. The power of the ark dried up the Jordan River for the Israelites to cross and sent diseases to the Philistines, who dared to fight the elect of God.

The ark still existed during the reign of King Josiah in the 7th century BC. It is believed to have been lost during the conquest of Jerusalem by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC or earlier, as it was not mentioned among the relics and treasures looted from Solomon’s temple. Obeying God’s command, the Israelites never created another ark, and its secret remained irretrievably lost.

7. Polish Crown Jewels

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At about the end of the 18th century, the Poles weren’t exactly having the best of times. Caught between three of Europe’s great powers (the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and Tsarist Russia), the once mighty kingdom was divided between them until there was nothing left.

The Polish Crown Jewels were almost as old as the kingdom itself. According to an inventory performed in 1633, the collection was stored in five chests and included multiple crowns, scepters, chains, and swords made for various occasions and for different iconic historical figures. In 1794, the treasure fell into the hands of the Prussians, who transported it to Berlin. The eventual fate of the Polish Crown Jewels is anything but glorious – they were melted for their gold in 1809. Only a ceremonial sword known as the Szczerbiec survived and is currently on display in Krakow.

8. Crown Jewels of Ireland

On July 6, 1907, regalia belonging to the Grand Master of the Order of St. Patrick—referred to as the "Crown Jewels of Ireland"—were discovered to be missing, the keys boldly left hanging in the safe’s lock. The pricey pieces, which included a diamond star and badge, had been presented to the order of knights in 1830. As added insult, five collars of Knight Members of the Order had also been spirited away.

Security was perhaps a bit lax. A safe room had been built for Dublin Castle in 1903, yet the safe that protected the jewels was too big to fit in the door, so it was kept in a library strongroom.

An investigation was immediately launched, but a century later, the case is unsolved. One rumor is that the investigation was halted under the orders of Edward VII because it ended up touching on a sexual scandal at Dublin Castle. One top suspect is Francis Shackleton, second-in-command at the castle, and brother to the famed explorer Ernest Shackleton; some say he may have been trying to raise funds for his brother's polar expedition.

9. The Amber Room

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A symbol of both Russian and German masterpieces, the Amber Room was the pride and joy of the Romanov House. It mysteriously disappeared during World War II and has been unknown ever since. And while Russian masters and scientists are recreating this amazing place in the 21st century, the location of the original Amber Room continues to spark debate among enthusiasts.

Peter the Great, the first Russian emperor to rule from 1682 to 1721, is known for his love of curiosities. His collection of unusual and unique objects or the so-called Kunstkamera, a room full of exceptional things – from minerals to deformed human embryos, continues to be displayed in St. Petersburg.

Even in Peter’s time, every monarch in Europe knew that there was no better way to please the powerful Russian tsar than to give him an extraordinary gift.

This is what the Prussian Friedrich Wilhelm I did when he wanted to win Peter’s favor. In 1716, he presented the Russian emperor with a room designed by the best Baroque Prussian architects and sculptures, decorated with amber and gold. This was the famous Amber Room, which was later called the Eighth Wonder of the World for its stunning beauty.

During the reign of Adolf Hitler, Germany officially announced that many works of art from previous centuries, including the room, had been stolen by the German people.

According to Alfred Rode, a German art critic who supposedly took care of the Amber Room after it was stolen, it survived even the heavy bombings of Konigsberg in 1944 where it was allegedly kept. However, the Soviet troops found no trace of it once they captured the city.

10. The Honjō Masamune

At the end of World War II, citizens in Japan were required to turn over privately owned weapons, including historic pieces. Among them was one of the most famous swords ever made: the Kamakura-period Honjō Masamune. Created by Masamune, who lived circa 1260-1340 and is often considered Japan’s greatest sword maker, the sword was celebrated for its strength and artistry.

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Its last owner was Tokugawa Iemasa, who brought the Honjō Masamune, along with other heirloom swords, to a Tokyo police station in compliance with the Allied orders. They were handed off to someone in the Foreign Liquidations Commission of AFWESPAC (Army Forces, Western Pacific), then disappeared. Some surrendered swords from this era were brought back to the United States by American soldiers, while others were melted or tossed in the sea. Today, the fate of the Honjō Masamune is unknown.

11. The Florentine Diamond

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According to legend, Charles the Bold—the Duke of Burgundy—carried this 132.27-carat yellow diamond into the 1477 Battle of Nancy as a talisman. The treasure did little to protect him, however, and he fell along with his gem. His mutilated corpse is said to have later been recovered from the battlefield, but the diamond was gone, supposedly picked up by a scavenger who sold it for two francs because he thought it was just glass.

However, in the 1920s the art historian Nello Tarchiani did archival research that revealed the diamond likely had no connection to the duke. The gemstone had originated in southern India, where it stayed until the Portuguese seized the area in the 1500s. Soon afterward, it made its way to Europe and into the hands of a series of illustrious owners, including Ferdinand de’ Medici, the Duke of Tuscany, in 1601. It was in the treasury of the Medicis in Florence that it got its name—the Florentine Diamond—and most likely its glistening, 126-facet double rose cut.

When Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, the last of the Medici ruling family, died in 1743, the diamond didn't stay with the treasure trove she bequeathed to the Tuscan state. Instead, Francis Stephan of Lorraine (who later became the Grand Duke of Tuscany and Holy Roman Emperor) bought it for his wife, Empress Maria Teresa, herself at the end of the House of Habsburg line. For a time, the Florentine diamond became part of the crown jewels in Vienna. Then the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed after World War I, and the diamond, it’s believed, was carried into exile in Switzerland by its last emperor, Charles I.

But where is it now? There are many theories on its disappearance, including that it was sold by the exiled emperor, and perhaps cut into smaller gems for that purpose. Others posit that it was stolen and spirited to South America. With no trace of the diamond in years, its whereabouts remain a mystery.

12. The Jules Rimet Trophy

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The Jules Rimet World Cup trophy was stolen ahead of the 1966 World Cup in England, prompting a major investivation.

It happened on March 20, 1966, while the prize was on public exhibition at Westminster Central Hall in London, four months ahead of the tournament was scheduled to kick off.

To the relief of FIFA and the Football Association, the trophy was located seven days after it was first reported missing

Prior to that, a ransom note was received by FA chairman Joe Mears and it warned: "If I don't hear from you by Thursday or Friday at the latest I assume it's one for the POT."

A ransom sum of £15,000 was demanded, but police managed to apprehend an individual by the name of Edward Betchley in a sting operation.

Betchley claimed to be nothing more than a go-between and was convicted for his part in the scheme, getting two years in prison.

It is not known exactly who was behind the theft of what was then the most sought-after commodity in football, but there have been plenty of rumours over the years.

13. Benin Bronzes

The Benin Bronzes are a group of hundreds of brass and bronze plaques depicting animal and human figures, “items of royal regalia,” and personal ornaments. Created starting in the 16th Century, these priceless works of art were commissioned to adorn ancestral altars and other sacred spaces. They were stolen from the West African Kingdom of Benin during the colonial era: In the late 19th century, thieves sacked Benin and made off with the bronzes after slaughtering countless residents of the city.

Chances you could find The Benin Bronzes: 100%. The stolen Benin Bronzes are housed at the British Museum on Great Russel Street in London, open daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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