Gold-coin find

Gold-coin find ‘greatest buried treasure ever unearthed in the United States’

February 26, 2014, 12:02 PM

Reuters

A couple in Northern California discovered more than 1,400 rare U.S. gold coins worth more than $10 million, rare-coin expert Kagin’s Inc. announced this week, referring to the find at as the “greatest buried treasure ever unearthed in the United States.”
The couple, who reportedly wish to remain anonymous, found the coins buried in cans on their property in California’s gold country while walking their dog.
“This family literally found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” said Donald Kagin, president of the Tiburon, Calif., coin firm, in a statement.
The Saddle Ridge Treasure, named after a feature of the family’s property, includes almost 1,400 $20 gold pieces, fifty $10 gold pieces and four $5 gold prices, all struck between 1847 and 1894.
“The Saddle Ridge Hoard discovery is one of the most amazing numismatic stories I’ve heard. This will be regarded as one of the best stories in the history of our hobby!” said PCGS and Collectors Universe Inc. President Don Willis, in a statement.
About 90% of the coins will go on sale at a later date on Amazon.com. It will be the first major numismatic treasure to be sold through Amazon AMZN +0.06% , Kagin said in its press release.
The face value of the find was $28,000, but it included at least 13 “finest known specimens” — among them an 1866-S No Motto Double Eagle valued at around $1 million.