A video shows the exhilarating moment a man unearthed Civil War-era gold coins in a Kentucky cornfield
Certified Collectibles Group; Brian Koellish/Getty Images
- An unidentified man recently found more than 700 gold coins in a Kentucky cornfield.
- The hoard is believed to be worth more than $1 million and might confirm a Civil War legend.
- A video shows the man, who remains anonymous, uncovering the dirt-covered gold coins.
An unidentified man recently found a treasure trove of more than 700 Civil War-era gold coins — believed to be worth more than $1 million — in a Kentucky cornfield.
The exact location of the coins, as well as who found them, has not been shared publicly, but a short clip posted to YouTube by GovMint, the coin dealer charged with selling the coins, shows the man's excitement at his discovery.
In the clip, the man — who is not shown on camera — sounds breathless as he identifies how many coins he had dug up, calling it "the most insane thing ever." The video pans over the coins, which are covered in dirt, as the man identifies them as $1, $10, and $20 gold coins.
The finding, which is now being referred to as the Great Kentucky Hoard, includes genuine $1, $10, and $20 gold coins minted before and during the Civil War.
The Numismatic Guaranty Company said that Southerners might have buried the coins before and during the Civil War to protect them from invading armies — a long-held belief by treasure hunters.
Despite having been buried for an estimated 160 years, many of the coins are in mint condition
"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," a spokesperson for the Numismatic Guaranty Company wrote in a statement.
"Finding one Mint condition 1863 Double Eagle would be an important numismatic event. Finding nearly a roll of superb examples is hard to comprehend," the statement continued.
The total value of the hoard is unknown, but The New York Times estimates it could be worth upward of $1 million given the number of high-value coins found.
"This is what every treasure hunter dreams about," one YouTube commenter wrote, "and this man lives it."