Erfurt Treasure

The Erfurt Treasure is an extraordinary collection of coins, goldsmiths' work, and jewelry, believed to have been hidden by Jews during the Black Death pogroms in 1349. Unearthed in 1998 in Erfurt, Germany, this treasure trove includes silver coins, ingots, goldsmith works, and jewelry from the 13th and 14th centuries. The collection comprises around 600 pieces, including silver tableware, brooches, finger rings, and garment appliqués.

One of the standout pieces is a Jewish wedding ring made of gold, adorned with intricate Gothic tracery and Hebrew letters that spell out "mazal tov." This item, along with other jewelry in the collection, has captivated scholars because medieval jewelry often didn’t survive, as it was frequently melted down for its precious metals. The Erfurt Treasure is notably larger and more significant than similar finds in places like Colmar, Weissenfels, Lingenfeld, Münster, and Środa Śląska.

The last known owner of the property where the treasure was discovered was a Jewish moneychanger named Kalman von Wiehe. Over the years, the treasure has been exhibited in museums around the world, including the Musée National du Moyen Âge in Paris, the Yeshiva University Museum in New York City, the Wallace Collection in London, and Beth Hatefutsoth in Tel Aviv. Today, it has found a permanent home at the Old Synagogue museum in Erfurt.