A Texas woman has purchased a 2000-year-old Roman bust for just US$35 (NZ$55).
Laura Young came across the 52-pound marble bust at a Goodwill in Austin in 2018.
"It was a bargain at $35, there was no reason not to buy it," Young told CNN.
When she purchased the bust Young contacted several auction houses and experts to figure out if the piece had any history behind it.
Fine arts company Sotheby confirmed it was from ancient Roman times and was estimated to be around 2000 years old.
Postdoctoral curatorial fellow Lynley McAlpine, who works at the San Antonio Museum of Art, believed it was the bust of Sextus Pompey, a Roman military leader whose father Pompey the Great was an ally of Julius Caesar, CNN reported.
The bust had been housed in a replica of a Pompeii home, also known as the Pompejanum, which was commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria.
CNN reported it was on display in the Pompejanum before it was placed into storage during World War II before the Pompejanum was bombed.
It was stolen whilst in storage and only reappeared in 2018 in Austin, Texas.
Young tried to find the person who donated the statue on Craigslist but hasn't been able to track them down.
"I would really love it if whoever donated it came forward, it's most likely not the original person who took him, but would still like to know the story," Young told CNN.
The piece is now at the San Antonio Museum of Art and will remain there for a year. Young is proud her unique find will be on display so people can learn about its history.
McAlpine said it is technically owned by Germany since it was stolen from storage. The bust will be sent back to Germany in May 2023 and be back on display again in the Pompejanum.
