Artūrs Kalns, 52, liquidated his retirement portfolio after discovering what he calls 'the most spherical naturally occurring object in the Baltic region.' Experts estimate the stone's monetary value at approximately €0.03. 'They don't understand,' Kalns whispers, cradling the pebble. 'This is perfect.'

Kalns discovered the stone while walking on Jurmola beach last Tuesday. 'I knew immediately,' he explained. 'The symmetry. The smoothness. The way it fits perfectly in my palm. This is what I've been searching for.'

He promptly sold his apartment, car, and a collection of vintage stamps to purchase the stone from... the beach. Which is public. And free.

'I left €47,000 in a jar on the sand,' Kalns explained. 'It felt wrong to take it without payment.'

Geologists confirm the stone is 'just a regular pebble, maybe slightly round.' Kalns now lives in his sister's garage, where he spends approximately 18 hours per day gazing at the stone.

'She doesn't get it either,' he sighs. 'But one day, they'll all see.'