Massive Coin Heist Hits French Museum Amid Ongoing Cultural Theft Spike

Sun Oct 26 2025 05:27:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a shocking theft, approximately 2,000 gold and silver coins valued at €90,000 were stolen from a French museum dedicated to philosopher Denis Diderot, just hours after a major heist at the Louvre.

A recent wave of art and cultural thefts in France has escalated, highlighted by the theft of 2,000 coins from the Maison des Lumières in Landres, shortly after a high-profile robbery of crown jewels at the Louvre. The coins, dating from 1790 to 1840, were discovered missing when the museum opened on Tuesday. Authorities are raising alarms about the security inadequacies plaguing French cultural institutions.

Around 2,000 gold and silver coins worth approximately €90,000 (£78,000; $104,000) were stolen from a museum dedicated to the French philosopher Denis Diderot in Landres, northeastern France. This incident occurred just hours after the audacious heist of royal jewels at the renowned Louvre in Paris.

Details emerged after the Maison des Lumières (House of Enlightenment) opened its doors on Tuesday, only to find a smashed display case, prompting officials to investigate. The local authorities noted that the coins were pilfered with great expertise.

This incident marks another troubling occurrence in a series of heists targeting cultural institutions across France. The stolen coins, recognized as part of a private collection, date back from 1790 to 1840, having been discovered during renovations in 2011.

Following the shocking theft of jewels at the Louvre worth €88 million, the theft of the coins from the Landres museum raises significant concerns about the security measures in place at such cultural sites. Security experts warn that incidents like these could inspire similar crimes as local thieves may feel emboldened by the success of high-profile heists.

In recent months, museum security has been called into question, with notable thefts including an incident last month at Paris's Natural History Museum, where thieves made off with six gold nuggets valued at around €1.5 million. Authorities continue to grapple with the apparent ease with which criminals are targeting museums and cultural landmarks, calling for urgent attention to enhance security protocols after multiple high-stakes art thefts.