A couple, that has chosen to remain anonymous, discovered a loot of gold coins on their property last year in California, land of the Gold Rush.

John and Mary, as they’ve been identified by numismatic firm Kagin Inc., had been walking their dog last year along their property when they spotted a rusting lid poking out of the dirt. When they brought the can home, they discovered dozens of gold coins dating to the mid-19th century inside.

California Couple Finds Gold Treasure

“I thought any second an old miner with a mule was going to appear,” John said in an interview posted on the Kagin Inc. webstite.

“It was like finding a wonderful hot potato,” Mary added. “I never would have thought we would have found something like this; however, in a weird way I feel like I have been preparing my whole life for it.”

In total, the pair unearthed eight cans, which held 1,427 gold coins – a variation of $20, $10 and $5 face value coins – dating from 1847 to 1894. Though the face value of the total treasure is $27,000, experts claim that the loot is worth about $10 million.

Now that the collection, which is being touted as the largest buried treasure is U.S. history, has been revealed, much of it will be displayed at the American Numismatic Assn. National Money Show this weekend in Atlanta. The couple plans to keep some of the rare coinage, and sell the rest on Amazon. While they’ll be keeping some of the money, they intend on giving a portion of it to charity.

– Chelsea Regan

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