The history of Lignières-en-Berry is punctuated with fascinating discoveries, particularly in terms of monetary treasures. For centuries, the subsoil of this region has concealed hidden remains, witnesses of bygone eras. Among them, one of the most mysterious is undoubtedly the treasure of Saint-Thibaut, unearthed in 1981.

Made up of 520 silver coins minted under Louis XV, this deposit still raises many questions today: who buried it and why? Was it a reserve carefully hidden by monks from the neighboring hermitage, or the forgotten loot of a traveling merchant?

By exploring this exceptional discovery, let’s dive together into the secrets of Lignières and its buried treasures, between legends and historical truths…

Lignières-en-Berry, a territory rich in monetary treasures

Lignières-en-Berry, located in the heart of Berry, is a land steeped in history where vestiges of the past sometimes resurface in a spectacular way. Among the most fascinating discoveries in the region, several monetary treasures have been unearthed, testifying to flourishing economic activity at different times.

Since the 1970s, excavations and agricultural work have revealed monetary deposits dating from Roman times. One of the most remarkable sites is that of La Bergerie, where, in 1971, a quadrangular Gallo-Roman enclosure yielded a treasure of 613 follies minted under the Emperor Diocletian (294-310). These coins, found in excellent condition, came from several mints, notably Ticinum, Lyon and London.

Two years later, in 1973, another major discovery took place at the Brande de Feuilloux, near La Celle-Condé. This time, it is a box containing 1,980 sesterces issued between 68 and 240 under the reigns of the emperors Galba to Philip the Arab. The origin of these treasures remains a mystery: were they buried to escape looting, used as an emergency reserve, or simply forgotten over time?

The history of Lignières-en-Berry reminds us that this region was crossed by an important Roman road linking Ernodurum (Saint-Ambroix) to Mediolanum (Châteaumeillant). This route facilitated commercial exchanges, which would explain the circulation of these currencies and the presence of buried treasures.

But the discoveries are not limited to Antiquity. One of the most surprising dates back to 1981 and concerns a mysterious treasure of silver coins minted under Louis XV…

The mystery of Louis XV’s coin treasure in Saint-Thibaut

In April 1981, a farmer working a field near the hamlet of Saint-Thibaut, near Lignières, made an unexpected discovery. While leveling an embankment, he accidentally broke a stoneware pot which contained 520 silver coins, mostly dating from the reign of Louis XV (1715-1774). A single, older coin dates back to the reign of Louis XIV, minted in 1675.

The news quickly spread and attracted the attention of historians and numismatists. Why were these coins buried here?

Two main hypotheses emerge:

1. A religious deposit? Some specialists suggest that this treasure could be linked to the monks of the Saint-Thibaut hermitage. At the time, mite and other offerings were often used to finance masses and religious works. It is possible that the monks decided to hide these pieces to prevent them from being placed in a common fund of the diocese.
2. A merchant treasure? Another, more pragmatic theory suggests that this deposit belonged to a traveling merchant. The location of the treasure, close to an old busy traffic route, reinforces this idea. Perhaps it was a nest egg from a sale, kept safe waiting to be recovered… but never found.

The enigma of the treasure of Saint-Thibaut continues to intrigue. Why such a mixture of coins from 29 different mints? Was it a personal fortune or part of a larger business?

Lignières, a territory still full of mysteries

The history of the monetary treasures of Lignières-en-Berry and Saint-Thibaut shows to what extent this region is a privileged witness to past economic exchanges. From Roman times to the Ancien Régime, the deposits of coins found in the ground suggest that inhabitants or travelers, anxious to protect their fortune, hid these riches… without ever recovering them.

Even today, it is likely that other treasures lie dormant beneath the Berry soil, waiting to be rediscovered. If you are passionate about history and numismatics, a visit to Lignières is essential. Some of the treasures discovered are kept there, while other pieces are exhibited at the Berry Museum in Bourges.

The mystery remains: how many treasures remain to be discovered in this region of a thousand secrets?

Discover the pot and treasure coins in our ThomasNumismatics catalog:

Sources:

• Le Berry Républicain
• wikipédia