An anonymous farmer stumbled upon a million-dollar treasure while digging on his land. Although he wasn’t obligated to, he handed it over to experts.
A man from Kentucky, USA, made an extraordinary discovery. While digging on a cornfield, he unearthed hundreds of gold coins dating back to the mid-19th century. The find is believed to be the so-called “Great Kentucky Hoard,” which is associated with the American Civil War.
The value of this discovery is estimated to reach tens of millions of U.S. dollars. The farmer from the eastern U.S. state found more than 800 coins dating from 1840 to 1863. Remarkably, this fascinating treasure was found entirely by accident.
The treasure’s value could reach tens of millions of euros.
The lucky American enthusiastically shared his discovery with the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), which he immediately contacted. The world’s largest organization for verifying and evaluating coins and medals has already certified more than 58 million coins, as stated on its website.
Jeff Garrett, an expert with the company, initially couldn’t believe what the farmer had found. “I’m always excited when someone calls me for advice on a rare coin discovery, but the opportunity to work on the Great Kentucky Hoard is one of the milestones of my career,” he said.
The rarity of the find is further emphasized by the fact that most of the coins are made of gold, and a smaller number are silver. The hoard also contains several rare dies, including multiple error coins. As a result, the treasure’s value could easily climb into the tens of millions of euros.
On eBay, some of these coins are fetching astronomical prices.
The hoard is now in the hands of dealer GovMint, who will be offering the coins to interested buyers at auction. Some pieces may sell for six-figure sums individually. Particularly noteworthy is an 1863 Liberty $20 gold coin, of which the farmer found eighteen.
On eBay, sellers are asking thousands of dollars for coins from this era, but one listing truly stands out. The seller of a PCGS-certified 1870 Liberty $20 gold coin is asking for $1,250,000, which is approximately €1.14 million.
Each of the coins contains 90% gold and was minted in Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Carson City, according to Treasure Hunter. The treasure is also remarkable for its state of preservation. “They are stunningly lustrous and in a condition rarely seen for this type of coin,” commented Andy Salzberg, vice president of GovMint, which NGC is part of.
The farmer wasn’t obligated to turn over the treasure.
If you’re interested in owning a piece of this treasure, keep an eye out. These coins will be up for auction in the coming months, as reported by TN.cz. “The Great Kentucky Hoard is coming to market for the very first time. These coins have never been available before,” emphasized GovMint, highlighting the uniqueness of the event.
“We are deeply honored and incredibly excited to have been chosen as the exclusive broker for the sale of these remarkable coins,” added the company’s president, Bill Gale.
The treasure was unearthed after more than 150 years. Its original owner likely buried it during the American Civil War. “Despite Kentucky’s declaration of neutrality, there was significant unrest. Many families were torn apart, and the Great Kentucky Hoard may be a result of such a conflict,” explains NGC.
The goodwill of the finder has pleased many historians. In the United States, there is no obligation to report historical finds discovered on private property to an archaeologist. The decision is always up to the landowner or the finder.
Sources: NGC, TN.cz, eBay, Treasure Hunter
