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The Great Kentucky Hoard
Treasure found! Every state has tales of lost or buried treasure and that’s especially true in Kentucky! One of the greatest finds occurred this year, 2023, unearthed on Kentucky farmland—a find so monumental that it has been hailed as the Great Kentucky Hoard—a cache of U.S. gold coins dated between 1840 and 1863 consisting of $1 Gold Indians, $10 Gold Libertys and $20 Gold Libertys—even including a few 1863 Gold Liberty Double Eagles, a super-rare date that is scarce in all grades. While the person who discovered this gold treasure has remained anonymous, his coin hoard has instantly become one of the greatest instances of treasure found on U.S. soil in the 21st century.
GovMint.com and our Scarce & Unique Division had exclusive rights to sell this coin hoard, which sold out fast as gold treasure often does. While our Great Kentucky Hoard inventory is already sold out, be sure to turn to GovMint for future finds, impressive vintage hoards like the Fairmont Collection Reserve+, and more!
Check out other vintage gold options, including breathtaking, quality, vintage gold coins that are part of the Fairmont Collection Reserve+, a special subset of the Fairmont Collection that only includes the highest quality coins with the greatest luster and exceptional beauty. Learn more here!
Which U.S. Gold Coins Were in the Great Kentucky Hoard?
This coin hoard consisted of U.S. Gold Dollars in Type I, Type II, and Type III with the date range of 1854-1862. The Gold Dollars made up 95% of this hoard, while the remaining 5% included about twenty $10 Libertys with a date range of 1840-1862 and eight $20 Libertys dated between 1857 and 1862. But—likely the most amazing discovery in this hoard is about eighteen 1863-P $20 Gold Liberty coins, one of the rarest dates in the $20 Liberty series! This is a coin that often commands a six-figure price.
Composition & NGC Grading
Each of the coins that are part of the Great Kentucky Hoard is struck in 90% gold from the Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, New Orleans or Carson City Mints.
The coins were sent to the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) for certification and grading. Once the dirt was removed, the coins displayed eye-popping luster, with most grading in Extremely Fine to Mint State (XF–MS) condition. The XF coins likely circulated lightly in commerce before being buried, and some of these coins could possibly have been picked up at a bank and never entered commerce. Nearly all of the 1863-P $20 Libertys graded in Mint State!
It takes a significant group of coins to earn a pedigree at NGC, as pedigree labels are very seriously considered and must be merited. But this hoard more than warrants the “Great Kentucky Hoard” pedigree.
1840-1863 Gold Indian and Liberty Coins from the Great Kentucky Hoard
Recovered in 2023 on a Farm in Kentucky
$1 Gold Indians, $10 Gold Libertys, $20 Gold Libertys,
Each Struck in 90% Gold
Classic Designs
Legal-Tender Coins
NGC-Certified and Graded
Great Kentucky Hoard Pedigree by NGC
Extremely Limited Availability
The Great Kentucky Hoard is truly a remarkable find. Coin hoards such as this one provide collectors and numismatists a unique opportunity to capture a rare piece of history. When treasure such as the Great Kentucky Hoard is found and sold to the public, it’s a chance for buyers to own one of these remarkable, historic, Civil War-era Gold coins—recovered from burial on farmland in Kentucky.
"I am always excited when someone calls asking for advice about a rare coin discovery. The opportunity to handle the “Great Kentucky Hoard” is one of the highlights of my career. The importance of this discovery cannot be overstated. 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. Finding one mint condition 1863 double eagle would be an important numismatic event. Finding nearly a roll of superb examples is hard to comprehend."
- Jeff Garrett, U.S. Coins Expert and Editor of The Official Redbook: A Guide Book of United States Coins
How Much Did the Great Kentucky Hoard Sell For?
Some experts estimate that the total value of the hoard itself exceeds $2 million, while others believe that figure is closer to $1 million.
Watch the video to see and hear the reaction of the person who discovered the Great Kentucky Hoard.
Kentucky, the Lost Treasure State
Though not actually the state’s nickname—it’s the Bluegrass State—it’s a name that holds some truth because Kentucky is filled with long-whispered legends of ordinary people who buried their life savings and sunken riverboats laden with treasure that wash ashore even to this day. According to folklore, the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone buried a cache of coins for safekeeping somewhere near his homestead in Fayette County, Kentucky. Jesse James’ gold treasure is thought to have been buried near Russellville, Kentucky, amounting to $50,000 in gold coins; in fact, he and his gang purportedly hid stolen loot in various locations across Kentucky. Legend has it that during the Civil War, a wealthy Louisville businessman buried his fortune somewhere on his property to protect it from being confiscated. Murder, missing markers, and lost payrolls have all contributed to the lore of hunting for treasure in the Bluegrass State.
The disappearance of those long-ago gold treasures was a loss for the people of those times—but a gain for today’s collectors when coins like those from the marvelous Great Kentucky Hoard are finally discovered!
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<a href="https://www.govmint.com/great-kentucky-hoard"><img src="https://www.govmint.com/v~4b.53/media/wysiwyg/Kentucky_Hoard.jpg" alt="Great Kentucky Hoard" width="500" border="0"></a><br>Source: <a href="https://www.govmint.com/great-kentucky-hoard">Great Kentucky Hoard</a><br>
Kentucky Coin Hoarding During the Civil War
Located at the crossroads between the North and the South, Kentucky was a border state during the Civil War and proved to be fertile ground for outlaws, bootleggers, and gangsters during those years. The Civil War was also a time of great apprehension, and many people hoarded their money, resulting in the disappearance of vast amounts of coinage from circulation. In Kentucky, those fears were even greater after the state government officially declared its neutrality, only to see a large contingent of Southern sympathizers form their own government and join the Confederacy.
The state’s dual governments and military forces caused many painful divisions within Kentucky families, with sons fighting on opposite sides during the war. It truly was a war that pitted brother against brother in Kentucky. According to historical records, about 100,000 Kentuckians served in the Union Army, while as many as 40,000 fought for the Confederacy.
When the Civil War broke out in early 1861, gold, silver, and even copper coins vanished from circulation as people who were fearful of the war’s outcome stashed them away.
The Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) speculates this division within the state may have contributed to the Great Kentucky Hoard’s story:
“Despite the Declaration of Neutrality, the Civil War was a time of great turmoil in Kentucky. Many families were pitted against one another, and Kentucky saw much conflict. The Great Kentucky Hoard may have been a result of this conflict, with the coins lost for over 150 years, until they were unearthed in a cornfield.”
Shop Gold Coin Finds at GovMint.com
The Great Kentucky Hoard was just the latest coin hoard offered here at GovMint.com. We were thrilled to make the Great Kentucky Hoard available to collectors and the numismatist community at large while our supplies lasted. It is our deep commitment to customer satisfaction and our stellar reputation as a trusted coin dealer that led to his unique opportunity. While our Great Kentucky Hoard inventory is already sold out, be sure to turn to GovMint.com for future finds, as well as an extensive catalog of modern gold bullion coins available now!
