Harvard's $27.50 Magna Carta: A 700-Year-Old Secret Revealed

Harvard University's $27.50 Treasure: A 1300 Magna Carta Unearthed Harvard University recently made a remarkable discovery within its own archives. In 1946, the university acquired an unassuming copy of the Magna Carta for a modest $27.50. However, recent research by two scholars has revealed this copy to be far more significant than initially believed. It's an original 1300 version issued by King Edward I, one of only seven known to exist from that period. "Until now, there were only believed to be six copies of that 1300 version," explains a historian in the video. This discovery is not merely of monetary value—the document is priceless—but also of immense historical importance. The Magna Carta, with its assertion of a monarch's accountability to the law, laid the groundwork for modern democratic principles. The university, while acknowledging the document's immense worth (millions of dollars), has stated it has no plans to sell it. This decision underscores Harvard's commitment to preserving and sharing this vital piece of history for future generations. The discovery highlights the importance of careful archival research and the unexpected treasures that can be found in even the most familiar places.