A man has dug up more than 800 gold coins in a Kentucky cornfield dating back to the civil war era that is estimated to be worth millions.
On 9 June, coin dealer GovMint.com uploaded a video on to YouTube of the remarkable discovery. In the video, an unidentified man can be heard identifying $1, $10 and $20 gold coins that he dug up, adding that the discovery was “the most insane thing ever”.
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According to GovMint.com, the gold coins, which have been called the “Great Kentucky Hoard”, date back from 1840 to 1863. The hoard consists of $1 gold Indian coins, $10 gold Liberty coins and $20 gold Liberty coins, as well as a few 1863 gold Liberty Double Eagles, which GovMint.com said are a “super-rare date that is scarce in all grades”.
“The most amazing discovery in this hoard is about eighteen 1863-P $20 Gold Liberty coins, one of the rarest dates in the $20 Liberty series! This is a coin that often commands a six-figure price,” the website said.
The coins were later certified by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), a third-party coin-grading certification company. According to GovMint.com, the coins displayed “eye-popping luster” and most were graded as ‘Extremely Fine to Mint State condition”.
Upon certifying the coins, the NGC said that they may have been buried as a result of Kentucky’s declaration of neutrality during the civil war.
The state, which bordered northern union states and southern confederate states, adopted a neutral position during the war which the NGC said led to many families across the state being pitted against one another.
Jeff Garrett, a rare coin dealer and expert in US coinage, was contacted to handle the find, NGC said.
“While I’m always excited when someone calls asking for advice about a rare coin discovery, the opportunity to handle the Great Kentucky Hoard is one of the highlights of my career,” said Garrett.
“The importance of this discovery cannot be overstated, as the stunning number of over 700 gold dollars represents a virtual time capsule of civil war-era coinage, including coins from the elusive Dahlonega mint,” Garrett said, referring to a Georgia-based mint that operated from 1838 to 1861 and only produced gold coins.
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“Finding one mint condition 1863 Double Eagle would be an important numismatic event. Finding nearly a roll of superb examples is hard to comprehend,” he added.
The coins have since been put up for sale on the market, with the gold Indian coins ranging between $995 and $1,295, according to GovMint.com. The gold Liberty coins have also been put up for sale, with prospective customers required to call in regarding their availability and price.
According to the Professional Coin Grading Service, another third-party coin-grading company, the auction record for a proof 1863 gold Liberty Double Eagle is $381,875.
