A treasure trove associated with the infamous charlatan, Antoni Jaczewiczar, has been unearthed in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains of south-central Poland.
During the tumultuous period of the Great Northern War (1700–1721), Poland grappled with a devastating outbreak of plague, reaching its zenith from 1708 to 1712. It was amidst this despair that Antoni Jaczewiczar emerged, presenting himself as a healer endowed with divine gifts allegedly bestowed upon him by the Virgin Mary. Setting up residence in the wilderness of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, he lured in desperate souls seeking solace and protection from the ravages of disease.
Exploiting the vulnerability of the afflicted, Jaczewiczar amassed considerable wealth through his fraudulent schemes. Donations poured into his hermitage, purportedly accompanied by the divine presence of the Virgin Mary. His riches swelled to such proportions that he fortified his sanctuary with armed guards, transforming it into a veritable fortress.
However, Jaczewiczar’s reign of deception was not destined to endure. Local authorities, perturbed by his dubious activities, apprehended him and subjected him to trial at the Krakow episcopal court. Yet, his audacity knew no bounds, as he managed to escape custody and retreat back to his mountain abode to continue his charade.
Ultimately, justice caught up with Jaczewiczar in 1712 when he was recaptured and sentenced to lifelong imprisonment in Częstochowa. Despite his confinement, rumors persisted regarding his hidden wealth, shrouding his legacy in mystery for centuries.
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Recently, the Świętokrzyska Exploration Group (ŚGE), authorized by the Świętokrzyskie Provincial Monument Conservator, embarked on a quest to unravel the secrets of Jaczewiczar’s legacy. After years of meticulous searching, their efforts bore fruit as they uncovered a trove of silver and gold coins dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
The coins are believed to have been amassed through donations, votive offerings, or possibly pilfered from the local nobility. Among the discovered coins were orts, sixes, patagoons, krajcars, and kopecks, each bearing witness to the era of Jaczewiczar’s fraudulent activities. Of particular interest was a 1648 gold Hamburg ducat featuring the Madonna and Child, possibly utilized as a medallion.
The hoard has been transferred to the Historical and Archaeological Museum in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. Wojciech Siudowski, representing the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments in Kielce, remarked, “Its conservation and detailed numismatic and historical analysis are planned this year, which we hope will provide more answers about the past of this deposit.”
