A man in Kentucky recently made an incredible discovery when he unearthed over 700 rare coins from the Civil War period while working on his rural farm. Nicknamed the “Great Kentucky Hoard,” the trove includes hundreds of U.S. gold dollars minted between 1850 and 1862 as well as a collection of high-value 1863 Double Eagle $20 gold pieces, according to coin experts at Numismatic Guaranty Company who authenticated the pieces.
In a YouTube video posted by GovMint, one of the largest coin dealers in the U.S., the unnamed farmer is shown unearthing the potential multi-million dollar find from the dirt, exclaiming in disbelief, “This is the most insane thing ever…I’m still diggin’ them out.”
While the exact location has not been disclosed, the majority of the coins found were gold dollars along with around 20 Liberty Head $10 gold coins dating 1840-1862 and about 8 $20 Liberty Double Eagle gold coins dated 1857-1862. This remarkable discovery of rare 19th- century coins on a Kentucky farm represents an exciting and valuable piece of American numismatic history.
Among the most valuable coins uncovered were 18 rare 1863-P $20 Gold Liberty coins, which can sell for over $100,000 each according to GovMint. This particular coin is highly sought-after because it was minted before the phrase “In God We Trust” was added to all US gold and silver currency in 1866 after the Civil War, making it incredibly rare.
With just a single 1863-P $20 Gold Liberty estimated to potentially fetch six figures, the discovery of 18 in this hoard makes it an exceptionally exciting and lucrative find.
As Jeff Garrett, a leading rare coin dealer, stated, the chance to handle a hoard of this magnitude with such precious rarities is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in numismatics. The immense historical and financial value of these Civil War-era coins found on a Kentucky farm is unprecedented.
According to Garrett, the immense significance of uncovering over 700 gold dollars in such pristine condition cannot be overemphasized, as it represents a veritable time capsule of coins minted during the Civil War period, even including rare pieces from the Dahlonega Mint.
The discovery of nearly 20 flawless 1863 Double Eagle $20 gold coins is astonishing. With Kentucky situated along the border between Union and Confederate states during the war, this hoard provides a captivating look into the coinage circulating at that pivotal time in American history, making it a priceless Civil War-era time capsule.
Although Kentucky officially declared neutrality at the start of the Civil War in 1861, the state was largely under Union control by 1862 according to Middle Creek National Battlefield.
Experts speculate this remarkable hoard of gold coins, buried on a Kentucky farm, may be tied to the internal conflict and divisions between Kentuckian families pitted on opposing sides. Ryan McNutt, a conflict archaeologist, theorized the coins could have been hidden in anticipation of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan’s raid through Kentucky in the summer of 1863.
With Kentucky situated as a border state embroiled in the clash between Union and Confederate forces, this coin cache likely relates to the turmoil and unrest circulating at that pivotal moment in the state’s history. Now authenticated and certified, these rare Civil War-era treasures found buried on a rural Kentucky farm are available for purchase from GovMint, presenting a truly unique opportunity to own a tangible piece of numismatic history connected to America’s deadliest war.
Andy Salzberg of the Certified Collectibles Group, the parent company of NGC, described the unearthed coins as remarkably well-preserved with astounding luster, possessing a freshness rarely seen in historical coins. He stated NGC was thrilled to be selected for certifying this extraordinary discovery, calling it a truly exceptional once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
This Kentucky farm find is not the only recent case of people uncovering buried treasure on properties. Last month a California man found 1 million pennies in his late father-in-law’s basement. In 2019 an English couple discovered $800,000 of rare gold coins under their kitchen floorboards. And in a bitter act of spite, a divorced father dumped 80,000 pennies on his ex-wife’s lawn last year for his final child support payment. But the immense historical significance and value of this Civil War-era hoard make it a particularly remarkable and exciting discovery.
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