Massive Coin Heist Strikes French Museum Just After Louvre Theft

Sat Oct 25 2025 13:47:15 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Around 2,000 gold and silver coins valued at approximately €90,000 were stolen from the Maison des Lumières in Landres, northeastern France, shortly after a notorious jewelry heist at the Louvre.

A recent string of art thefts in France continues as another museum was targeted, with thieves stealing 2,000 valuable coins from a museum dedicated to philosopher Denis Diderot. This theft comes shortly after a high-profile robbery at the Louvre, igniting concerns over security at cultural institutions.

Around 2,000 gold and silver coins worth approximately €90,000 (£78,000; $104,000) were stolen during a raid at a French museum, just hours after the audacious theft of jewels from the Louvre in Paris.

The incident occurred at the Maison des Lumières (House of Enlightenment) in Landres, northeastern France, over Sunday night. Upon opening the following Tuesday, museum staff discovered a smashed display case and raised the alarm, revealing that the coins had been taken with remarkable precision, according to local authorities.

This incident marks the latest in a troubling trend of thefts at cultural institutions across France.

Last month, criminals made off with six gold nuggets valued at around €1.5 million from the Natural History Museum in Paris, while two valuable Chinese porcelain dishes were stolen from a national museum in Limoges, totaling €6.55 million. Some items remain unrecovered, and no arrests have been made in several cases.

The Louvre robbery, in which €88 million worth of historic jewelry was taken, involved thieves disguised as workers, who used power tools to access secured areas. Concerns have risen about security measures at renowned institutions in France, prompting criticism from officials.

Art detective Arthur Brand warned of possible copycats operating in France, indicating that some criminal groups may be conducting multiple thefts in quick succession.