Historic gold coin collection from the wall of a French house sells for millions of euros at auction

A huge collection of historic gold coins, recovered from the wall of a house in France after their owner passed away, has been sold for millions of euros at auction.

A huge collection of historic gold coins, recovered from the wall of a house in France after their owner passed away, has been sold for millions of euros at auction.

A huge collection of historic gold coins, recovered from the wall of a house in France after their owner passed away, has been sold for millions of euros at auction.

Coins collected by Paul Narce over many years sold for more than 3 million euros ($3.48 million) at an auction in Paris this week, auction house Beaussant Lefèvre and Associates told CNN on Thursday.

Coins collected by Paul Narce over many years sold for more than 3 million euros ($3.48 million) at an auction in Paris this week, auction house Beaussant Lefèvre and Associates told CNN on Thursday.

The coins had been expected to sell for around 2 million euros.

The coins had been expected to sell for around 2 million euros.

Narce, who lived until the age of 94 in a small village in south-west France, had no direct descendants and only a few people knew of his hobby, according to Beaussant Lefèvre and Associates.

Narce, who lived until the age of 94 in a small village in south-west France, had no direct descendants and only a few people knew of his hobby, according to Beaussant Lefèvre and Associates.

“Narce, who lived a modest life and didn’t see a lot of the world, spent all of his money on his collection,” said coin expert Thierry Parsy in a statement previewing the sale.

“Narce, who lived a modest life and didn’t see a lot of the world, spent all of his money on his collection,” said coin expert Thierry Parsy in a statement previewing the sale.

Over the years, he built up a collection of gold coins “exceptional both in number, with more than 1,000 pieces, as well as the rarities it contains,” said Parsy.

Over the years, he built up a collection of gold coins “exceptional both in number, with more than 1,000 pieces, as well as the rarities it contains,” said Parsy.

Many of the coins date back centuries, according to Parsy.

Many of the coins date back centuries, according to Parsy.

Among them are ancient coins from the Kingdom of Macedonia, dating to 336-323 BC, as well as almost complete series of coins used during the reigns of French Kings Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI.

Among them are ancient coins from the Kingdom of Macedonia, dating to 336-323 BC, as well as almost complete series of coins used during the reigns of French Kings Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI.

Narce moved into a care home about a year before he died, leaving the house empty. No one knew where he kept his collection, which “could have remained undiscovered forever,” said Parsy.

Narce moved into a care home about a year before he died, leaving the house empty. No one knew where he kept his collection, which “could have remained undiscovered forever,” said Parsy.

But the notary who was handling his estate set out to find the coins and eventually discovered them in a small space in the house wall.

But the notary who was handling his estate set out to find the coins and eventually discovered them in a small space in the house wall.

The coins were hidden behind a painting in a store room, Parsy said.

The coins were hidden behind a painting in a store room, Parsy said.

In addition to the carefully labelled collection, the notary also found 10 packages, each containing 172 gold 20 franc coins, equivalent to an ingot of gold.

In addition to the carefully labelled collection, the notary also found 10 packages, each containing 172 gold 20 franc coins, equivalent to an ingot of gold.