In 2017, British military vehicle collector Nick Mead purchased a decommissioned Iraqi tank for around £30,000 — roughly $37,000 at the time.
It wasn’t just a collector’s item. It was a functioning piece of military history: a Type 69 tank, a Chinese-built version of the Soviet T-55, believed to have been used during the Gulf War era.
But during a routine inspection, the story took an unexpected turn.
While checking the fuel tank compartment with a mechanic, Mead discovered something unusual hidden inside. Not debris. Not scrap metal.
Five solid gold bars.
The estimated value? Around £2 million — approximately $2.5 million USD at the time.
The gold was believed to potentially be looted property, possibly hidden during wartime chaos. And this is where the viral versions of the story usually stop — implying a sudden fortune.
But that’s not what happened.
Mead immediately contacted authorities. The gold was handed over to police and treated as suspected stolen property. It was never pocketed, never quietly sold, never turned into instant wealth.
The story isn’t about luck.
It’s about what war leaves behind — and the difference between finding treasure and owning it.
A $37,000 tank.
Five hidden gold bars.
And a reminder that history sometimes hides more than memories.