A gold coin treasure trove dating back to the Civil War era was unearthed in Kentucky, and experts say it shines light on life in the 1800s.
Called the “Great Kentucky Hoard,” the trove of more than 800 coins includes 1863 Double Eagles, silver coins and hundreds of U.S. gold dollars dated 1850 to 1862, according to the Numismatic Guaranty Co. and GovMint.com.
“This is the most insane thing ever,” a man says in a video, shared by GovMint, showing off his discovery. “Those are all $1 gold coins, $20 gold coins, $10 gold coins.”
But the 2023 price of these coins, experts say, is significantly higher. Coinworld.com says the hoard is now likely worth millions. It’s unclear where in Kentucky the discovery was made.
Jeff Garrett, the founder of Mid-American Rare Coin Galleries in Lexington, said the discovery was hard for him to comprehend. “
The opportunity to handle the Great Kentucky Hoard is one of the highlights of my career,” Garrett told NGC, the company that graded the coins. “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.”
The coins have been certified, cleaned and are now displayed with “eye-popping luster,” according to GovMint.com. The authentic coin retailer said the hoard “is truly a remarkable find.”
WHAT THE DISCOVERY SAYS ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR ERA
Kentucky was a border state during the Civil War and the site of many intense battles.
As many as 40,000 Kentuckians served in the Confederacy and about 100,000 were in the Union Army, according to American Battlefield Trust.
The lost coins, the NGC says, may have been a result of the conflict of families “pitted against one another.”
Ryan McNutt, a conflict archaeologist at Georgia Southern University, told Live Science it’s possible the coins were buried before Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan’s raid in the summer of 1863.
Some Kentuckians, the website reported, buried money so it would not be stolen by Confederate troops.
Coins “vanished from circulation” at the beginning of the year, GovMint.com said.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE COINS?
Coin collectors will have the opportunity to purchase the individual coins through GovMint.com.
“This extraordinary opportunity allows us to share these historic coins with collectors and enthusiasts, ensuring their preservation and appreciation for generations to come,” Bill Gale, GovMint founder and president, said in a news release.
According to the NGC, the coins “will be available in the coming months.” Each coin will include a Great Kentucky Hoard certification label.
–kentucky.com
