Metal detectorists unearth 300-year-old coin stash hidden by legendary Polish con man

Metal detectorists have unearthed a treasure trove of coins that may have belonged to a charlatan who hid in the mountains of south-central Poland after swindling people out of their money.

Throughout the late 17th century and early 18th century, Antoni Jaczewski, a "hermit, adventurer and false profit," defrauded people in Kielce, a city near the Jeleniowskie mountain range, according to a May 8 translated Facebook post from the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments in Kielce.

According to Polish legend, Jaczewski would "convince people of his healing power," which he had received "from the mother of God, who lived with him in the wilderness," then lured them to his mountain settlement, according to the statement.

At the time, Poland was at war and a plague was sweeping across the country, a double whammy that apparently convinced people to Travel to see Jaczewski. In exchange for receiving his healing practices, citizens paid him in gold and silver coins.

Authorities eventually captured and detained him, but he later escaped imprisonment and continued scamming citizens. In 1712, he was arrested again, but this time was sentenced to life in prison.

Related: 17th-century hoard brimming with 1,000 coins discovered in Poland

Fast forward a few hundred years to 2022, and metal detectorists discovered the cache. However, it would be another two years before authorities announced the finding.