Elderly woman’s doorstop turns into million-dollar amber discovery

What was once a simple doorstop has now become one of the most valuable amber finds in the world. A 3.5-kilogram stone, used to prop open a door for decades in southeast Romania, is now worth an estimated 1 million euros (around $1.1 million) — proving that sometimes, treasure really is hidden in plain sight.

Amber, a fossilized tree resin, forms over millions of years. With time, this viscous substance hardens into a durable and warm-toned material, often prized as a gemstone, according to the scientific website. 

In Romania, amber can be found near the village of Colti, nestled in sandstone along the River Buzau, where it has been mined since the 1920s. The amber found in this area, known as rumanite, is particularly sought after for its rich array of deep, reddish hues.

The elderly woman who discovered the rumanite nugget lived in Colti, where the stone performed a humble duty for many years. It even escaped the notice of jewel thieves who had previously targeted her home. In fact, it wasn’t until after the woman’s death in 1991 that a relative who inherited her home began to suspect the stone’s true worth. Upon realizing its value, the family member sold it to the Romanian state, which then had it appraised by experts at the Museum of History in Krakow, Poland.

Experts estimate that the amber is between 38 and 70 million years old, making it an extraordinary scientific find. Daniel Costache, director of the Provincial Museum of Buzau, remarked, "Its discovery holds great significance both scientifically and for museum collections."

Recognized as a national treasure, the amber nugget has been displayed at the Provincial Museum of Buzau since 2022, the very region where it was discovered.

This discovery draws a parallel to a similar incident in Michigan, where a man unknowingly used a meteorite worth $100,000 as a doorstop for years. In this case, a piece of amber valued at over a million dollars is just as remarkable. Imagine how many doorstops you could buy with that kind of fortune!

By Naila Huseynova