55. The World’s largest pearl was hidden under the bed for 10 years.
Location: Palawan, Philippines
Year Found: 2009.
Est. Value: $93 million*
What’s underneath your bed? We all have dust bunnies and other random things that have been stowed under our beds over the years. A person in Palawan Philippines discovered something totally unexpected: a 75 pound pearl that was lying there for 10 years.
The owner of the mattress forgot that it was under there. He had originally kept the pearl from the giant clam as a charm for good luck. This 2.2′ x 1.1′ pearl, now called the Puerto Princesa Pearl, is on display in the town hall where it was found. According to NPRthe original pearl was found by a fishing boat and is worth $93 million.
56. Student finds Venetian painting inside sofa he bought at a flea market
Location: Berlin
2018 Year Discovered
Est. Value: $27,630*
Thrift stores are a great place to look for cheap furniture. A lucky student in Berlin, Germany purchased a pullout sofa for only $215. She found a painting that was worth more than 100 times the price of the couch when she opened it up at home.
The painting, which measures 10″ by 15″, was authenticated and determined to be “Preparation for Escape to Egypt” created between 1605-1620 by Carlo Saraceni. The painting was in a remarkable condition, and was sold for almost $28,000 at an auction in Hamburg.
