After 31 years of intrigue, has the elusive Golden Owl finally been discovered? In the early hours of October 3, 2024, Michel Becker, the painter and co-organizer of the famed treasure hunt “On the Trail of the Golden Owl,” revealed that the bronze countermark had been unearthed, according to a report from Libération. This hunt, which began in 1993, holds the distinction of being the world’s longest-running treasure hunt still active.
Becker made the announcement in a message to the official “chouetteurs” Discord group, where participants have long shared their theories and progress. He stated that there was no longer any need to search in the previously suspected locations and added that the validity of the discovered solution was currently being verified.
While the identity of the finder remains unknown, the treasure-hunting community is now eagerly awaiting the full solution to the 11 riddles that make up the game.
The Bronze Countermark: A Key to Priceless Treasure
Since the treasure hunt’s inception by Max Valentin (a pseudonym for Régis Hauser), who passed away in 2009, thousands of participants have been captivated by the cryptic clues and mysteries leading to the hidden treasure. The goal has always been to locate the bronze countermark, which serves as the key to claiming the actual Golden Owl: a gold and silver statuette adorned with precious stones. When the game launched, the statuette was valued at one million francs, approximately 150,000 euros, but its worth today is likely far greater.
After years of legal disputes with Valentin’s heirs, Michel Becker, who also illustrated the original puzzles, secured the rights to the hunt’s solutions in 2020. He subsequently offered new clues to aid the “chouetteurs” in their search, reinvigorating the dedicated community.
Over the decades, the hunt for the Golden Owl has grown into a legend within the world of treasure hunters. As the mystery approaches its long-awaited conclusion, anticipation is building around both the solution and the revelation of the hidden treasure.
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