A hoard of more than 700 gold coins dating back to the US Civil War. buried in a Kentucky cornfield is being put up for sale and is expected to fetch millions.
The “Great Kentucky Treasure” was discovered on a farm in the Bluegrass state earlier this year, according to the firm that graded the coins and the company that sold them.
The exact location of the find and the identity of the man who found the coins have not been disclosed.
In a video posted to GovMint.com, which is selling the hoard, the man is seen digging up the coins in the dirt and is heard saying “this is the craziest thing ever.”
GovMint.com said the coins were dated between 1840 and 1863 and include $1 Gold Indians, $10 Gold Libertys and $20 Gold Libertys.
“Virtual Time Capsule”
The latter include 18 extremely rare $20 Gold Libertys, minted in 1863 in Philadelphia that, according to GovMint.com, are valued at six-figure sums among collectors.
“The importance of this discovery cannot be overstated,” said Jeff Garrett, a rare coin dealer who was contacted by the anonymous finder several months ago.
“A staggering amount of over $700 gold represents a virtual time capsule of Civil War-era mintingGarrett said in a statement.
Kentucky took a neutral stance during the Civil War of 1861-1865 between the South and the North slaveholders, but nevertheless became involved in the bloody conflict.
“The Great Kentucky Treasury may have been the result of this conflict, with the coins missing for more than 150 years,” said the Numismatic Guaranty Company, which certified the coins.
Edited with information from afp and GovMint
