maybe now your starting to see that running a server is not so easy!
even when you try hard and put a lot of time and effort into the server, ppl will still slate and hate on you for no reason, when you make small mistakes like forgetting to check an exploited npc!
running a high usercount server is not easy, even with multiple admins/GMs (in some cases it makes it worse).
also i hate to say this, but you'll soon see in time that theres multiple bugs/problems that you cannot fix on 2.3 files, and you'll regret not using 1 of the newer open source files, eg ruby/heroes (but tahts just my opinion!)
only way i can see u recovering is wiping the items/gold, fixing npcs, maybe doing a global search for all goldbar/bundles/chests in npcs to dbl check there is no exploitable npcs... then do a xmas event to help ppl re-gear quickly.