Part of the cauldron and some coins went to a dump site, initially unnoticed.

[1] An amateur archaeologist, Erich Eixner went back to the excavation site at night and found the larger part of the bronze cauldron, containing 560 coins and an additional lump of 1500 coins,[3] using his metal detector.

He informed the authorities of his discovery and received about 20,000 DM, a fraction of the estimated worth.

[1] The last time it was probably buried while Augusta Treverorum was beleaguered by Clodius Albinus, since the latest coins were struck 196 AD under Septimius Severus.

[1][3] The total number of coins originally in the bronze cauldron is estimated to be 2650.