Have you ever dreamed of uncovering a hidden treasure hoard of gold, silver, and priceless gems buried beneath the earth, just waiting to be found? Imagine strolling along the beach when you spot the corner of an old wooden chest peeking out from the sand. As you dig it up and pry it open, you’re amazed by the sight of gleaming gold and silver coins, dazzling diamonds, and shimmering emeralds. While real-life coin hoards may not be as polished as the ones in Hollywood films or our daydreams, discovering one is still an extraordinary and life-changing event. When a major hoard is unearthed, it makes headlines, especially in the numismatic world. This article looks at the top 22 famous coin hoards found throughout history.
1. Saddle Ridge Hoard
Main Coin Types: U.S. Gold Coins
Found By: A California couple walking their dog
Age of Coins: Minted between 1847 and 1894
In 2013, a couple hiking on their property in northern California stumbled upon a partially buried tin can, leading to one of the greatest American treasure finds ever. Digging further, they unearthed seven more cans for a total of eight, each filled with pristine U.S. gold coins. The couple recovered 1,427 coins in the cans. Most of them were $20 Liberty Head Double Eagles. The hoard, estimated to have been buried in the late 19th century, contained coins so well-preserved that many were in Mint State condition, with some grading as high as MS-66. Experts speculate that the coins may have been hidden by a private citizen or stolen from the San Francisco Mint, though no definitive link has been found. The entire hoard was appraised to be worth more than $10 million, making the Saddle Ridge Hoard the most valuable known buried treasure in the U.S. After authentication by numismatic experts, the coins were sold through Amazon and Kagin’s, with some pieces fetching record-breaking prices due to their rarity and condition.
2. The Great Kentucky Hoard
Main Coin Types: U.S. Gold Coins (Eagles, Half Eagles, and $20 Liberty Head Double Eagles)
Found By: A farmer in a corn field in Kentucky
Age of Coins: Mid-1800s
In 2023, a farmer in Kentucky uncovered an astonishing hoard of American gold coins. Over 800 U.S. gold coins, including scarce $10 and $20 Liberty Heads, were buried in the ground and seemingly untouched for over a century. Some coins were extremely rare Civil War-era issues, such as 1863-P Gold Dollars and 1863 Double Eagles. Experts believe the hoard was hidden during the Civil War, possibly by a wealthy landowner fearing Confederate raids. The hoard was estimated at several million dollars, with some individual coins fetching five- and six-figure sums at auction. Coins from the Kentucky Gold Hoard were graded and authenticated by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) before they were sold through GovMint.com.
3. The Baltimore Hoard
Main Coin Types: U.S. Gold Coins ($20 Double Eagles, $10 Eagles, $5 Half Eagles, $2.50 Quarter Eagles, and Gold Dollars)
Found By: Theodore Jones (16) and Henry Grob (15)
Age of Coins: Minted in the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s
On August 31, 1934, while digging in the cellar of a tenement building on Eden Street in Baltimore, two teenage boys uncovered two copper pots filled with 3,558 U.S. gold coins. The hoard included $20 Double Eagles, $10 Eagles, $5 Half Eagles, $2.50 Quarter Eagles, and Gold Dollars dating from the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s. The total face value of the discovery was $11,425.50 (over $260,000 today).
Their discovery quickly led to legal complications due to Executive Order 6102, which banned private gold ownership. A legal battle ensued, with multiple claimants stepping forward, but in 1935, the judge ruled in favor of the boys. The hoard was sold at auction on May 2, 1935, at the Lord Baltimore Hotel, fetching $19,558.75.
While their first find was still tied up in court, Jones and Grob returned to the cellar in 1935 and uncovered another $10,000 in gold coins ($229,000 today). Hoping to keep it secret, they split the coins and gave them to their mothers. However, a burglary exposed the second hoard, leading to another round of legal disputes. Judge Dennis once again ruled in favor of the boys.
Sadly, Henry Grob passed away in 1937 at age 17 from pneumonia, never getting the chance to enjoy his share of the fortune. While unknown who buried the coins in that location, the Baltimore Gold Hoard remains one of the most famous numismatic discoveries in U.S. history.
4. The Binion Hoard
Main Coin Types: Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars
Found By: Discovered after the death of Ted Binion, a Las Vegas casino executive
Age of Coins: Late 19th to early 20th century
The Binion Hoard is an infamous tale of precious metals in U.S. history. Ted Binion, heir to the Binion’s Horseshoe Casino fortune, amassed an enormous collection of Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars, hiding most of them in a secret underground vault on his Nevada ranch. He mysteriously died in 1998, and authorities were immediately suspicious of the circumstances. Two days after his death, his girlfriend’s new boyfriend, Ricky Tabish, was found digging up the secret vault at 2 a.m. and trying to move the silver. After more investigating, authorities arrested Binion’s girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, and Tabish for murder, grand theft, and conspiracy. After a series of trials, Murphy and Tabish were only charged with stealing the silver, and Binion’s death is still a mystery today. The silver collection was handled as evidence during the legal proceedings but was eventually sold by Ted Binion’s estate for $3.3 million. Many coins were graded by NGC and released with special Binion Hoard certifications, fetching steep premiums for some of the rare dates in good condition.
5. The Redfield Hoard
Main Coin Types: Morgan Silver Dollars
Found By: Authorities after the death of LaVere Redfield, an eccentric investor
Age of Coins: Late 19th to early 20th century
LaVere Redfield was a reclusive investor known for distrusting banks. Over the years, he amassed a staggering collection of Morgan Silver Dollars, hiding them in his basement behind false walls. After he died in 1974, authorities found over 400,000 silver dollars in his house in Reno, Nevada. Many of these coins were pristine, and the hoard was auctioned for $7.3 million to the winning bidder, Steve Markoff of A-Mark Corporation. While most of the coins are dispersed and hard to trace back to the hoard, many were certified as part of the Redfield Collection by third-party grading services such as NGC or PCGS.
6. The Black Swan Project
Main Coin Types: Spanish Silver and Gold Coins
Found By: Odyssey Marine Exploration
Age of Coins: 18th century
In 2007, treasure-hunting company Odyssey Marine Exploration discovered the largest underwater coin hoard in history. Consisting of nearly 500,000 Spanish silver and gold coins, historians believed this infamous find was from the sunken Spanish ship, the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. The discovery ignited an international legal battle between Odyssey and Spain, as the Spanish government claimed ownership of the treasure. After years of legal disputes, the U.S. courts ruled in favor of Spain. The treasure, estimated to be worth over $500 million, was returned to the Spanish government in 2012. It is the most valuable hoard ever recovered from a shipwreck.
7. The Hoxne Hoard
Main Coin Types: Roman Gold and Silver Coins
Found By: A metal detectorist in England
Age of Coins: 4th-5th century AD
In 1992, a British metal detectorist, Eric Lawes, was searching for a friend’s lost hammer when he stumbled upon one of the greatest Roman coin hoards ever discovered. Buried in a wooden chest near Hoxne in Suffolk, the Hoxne Hoard contained over 15,000 Roman gold and silver coins and hundreds of pieces of jewelry and tableware. Experts believe it was buried during the fall of the Western Roman Empire, possibly by a wealthy Roman Briton fleeing Saxon invasions. The Treasure Trove Reviewing Committee paid Eric Lawes the hoard’s market value, estimated at over $1.75 million in 1993 ($4 million in 2023 dollars), which he shared with the friend who lost his hammer. The hoard was declared treasure under UK law and now resides in the British Museum.
8. The Big Sky Hoard
Main Coin Types: Eisenhower Dollars (Copper-Nickel Clad and 40% Silver)
Found: In the basement of a Montana Bank
Age of Coins: 1971-1978
Discovered in 2011, the Big Sky Hoard was an astonishing cache of over 220,000 uncirculated Eisenhower Dollars that had been stored away in a Montana bank vault for more than three decades. Originally acquired directly from the Denver Mint, these coins remained untouched in their original mint-sewn bags, preserving their pristine condition. The hoard held copper-nickel clad and 40% silver Eisenhower Dollars, including the 1976 Bicentennial issues, which featured a special reverse design honoring the 200th anniversary of American independence. Unlike many Eisenhower Dollars that saw heavy circulation, the coins in the Big Sky Hoard remained in exceptional Mint State, making them highly desirable among collectors. The hoard was purchased by Littleton Coin Company and released to collectors. Many were graded and certified before being sold, adding to their numismatic appeal.
9. The Beau Street Hoard
Main Coin Types: Roman Silver Denarii
Found By: Archaeologists in England
Age of Coins: Dating between 32 BC and 274 AD
In 2007, archaeologists working to excavate a site for a new pool at the Gainsborough Hotel in Bath, England, uncovered one of the largest Roman coin hoards found in Britain. The Beau Street Hoard contained over 17,500 silver denarii buried in six separate moneybags, likely hidden by a wealthy individual during a time of political unrest. The hoard’s value is estimated to be worth over 150,000 pounds and is now displayed in the Roman Baths Museum.
10. The New York Subway Hoard
Main Coin Types: U.S. Coins (Key dates of Standing Liberty Quarters, Mercury Dimes, Lincoln Cents, and more)
Found By: Assembled from circulation by Morris Moscow, a New York subway fare collector between 1940 and 1960
Age of Coins: Late 19th to early 20th century
Morris Moscow was a subway fare collector in the 1940s who began exchanging his pocket change for circulating coins that featured key dates or unique attributes. Over 20 years, he built a collection of hundreds of coins, including 1916-D Mercury dimes, 1916 Standing Liberty Quarters, Barber Dimes, Barber Half Dollars, Barber Quarters, and more. He started the project at the request of his brother-in-law, George Shaw, a coin collector and dealer in Brooklyn. Many of the coins were sold to collectors by Shaw, but after his death, the Littleton Coin Company purchased the remainder of the collection and sold it to collectors.
11. The Bank of New York Hoard
Main Coin Types: Fugio Cents
Found By: Bank employees throughout the years
Age of Coins: 1787
The Bank of New York Hoard is a remarkable hoard of early American coins. Containing thousands of Fugio Cents, the hoard was thought to have been placed in the basement of the Bank of New York by the bank’s founders in 1788. They were essentially forgotten until 1856, when they were rediscovered and stashed away again. They were eventually found and given to employees and clients as souvenirs in the early 20th century. In 1948, the American Numismatic Society examined the Fugio Cents that remained, 1,641 coins. Some were sold to collectors, and some were donated to the ANS, but the Bank of New York (now BNY) still holds the remaining 819 coins.
12. The Wells Fargo Hoard
Main Coin Types: 1908 No Motto Saint Gaudens $20 Double Eagles
Found By: Discovered by Ron Gillio when he purchased the hoard
Age of Coins: 1908
The Wells Fargo Hoard consisted of around 10,000 uncirculated 1908-S $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagles stored in pristine condition. The coins had been tucked away for decades, avoiding circulation and remaining in near-perfect condition. In 1996, Ron Gillio purchased the hoard and was shocked at the near-perfect condition of the coins. After he bought them, they were briefly stored at the Wells Fargo Bank in Nevada, which is how it gained the name of the Wells Fargo Hoard. Gillio had the coins graded and certified by PCGS, and you can find many of them on the market today.
13. The New Orleans Bank Hoard
Main Coin Types: U.S. Silver Dollars and Spanish Silver
Found By: Construction workers and passersby
Age of Coins: 1700s-1800s
In 1982, construction workers in New Orleans stumbled upon a forgotten vault filled with silver and gold coins dating back to the 1700s. The workers were using a backhoe to build a new building when they broke into an area that formally housed vaults for an old New Orleans Bank. Three wooden boxes were revealed, and thousands of coins spilled out when one was broken open. Hundreds of individuals from the street, nearby buildings, and construction workers jumped into the mud to grab as many coins as possible. People were seen in suits, ties, and dresses collecting their share, eliminating the possibility of understanding this incredible find’s full scope or value. Some coins were exceptionally rare, including New Orleans Mint-struck Liberty Seated quarter dollars, Spanish coins from the early 1700s, and more. Most of the coins were silver, but some were gold. The remaining hoard was divided between collectors, investors, and institutions.
14. The Frome Hoard
Main Coin Types: Roman Silver Denarii and Bronze Coins
Found By: Metal detectorist Dave Crisp near Frome in Somerset, England
Age of Coins: 3rd century AD
Dave Crisp discovered the Frome Hoard while detecting metal in a Somerset, England field. The hoard contained 52,503 Roman coins, mostly bronze issues. While the hoard contained coins from the Gallic Empire and Central Empire, it is significant because it is the largest group of coins from the reign of Emperor Carausius, the first Roman Emperor to mint coins in England. Experts believe the coins were buried as a ritual offering rather than for safekeeping due to the sheer size of the hoard. The hoard was acquired by the Museum of Somerset and valued at over 300,000 pounds.
15. The Harrogate Hoard
Main Coin Types: Viking Silver Coins and Jewelry
Found By: David Whelan while metal detecting in Yorkshire
Age of Coins: 9th century AD
The Harrogate Hoard, or Vale of York Hoard, was discovered in 2007 when David Whelan and his son were metal detecting in Yorkshire. They found a hoard of 617 Viking silver coins and artifacts from the 9th century in an unplowed field and reported it to the UK government. It is believed to have been buried by a Viking fleeing conflict and was estimated to be worth over £1 million. The British Museum acquired the hoard and has been displayed in the Yorkshire Museum, Aberdeen Art Gallery, Norwich Castle Museum, and the University of Nottingham.
16. The Shapwick Hoard
Main Coin Types: Roman Silver Denarii
Found By: Kevin and Martin Elliott, amateur metal detectorists in England
Age of Coins: Ranging from 30 BC to 224 AD
Another large Roman coin hoard found in Britain, the Shapwick Hoard contained 9,262 silver denarii spanning over 200 years of Roman history. The coins were found buried in the corner of a room of an old Roman building and featured two coins never found in Britain before. Most of the coins were from the reign of Septimus Severus, but there were also coins from the reigns of Mark Antony, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, and much more. The value of the hoard was placed at over £265,000. The coins were studied and then housed in the British Museum.
17. The Exeter Hoard
Main Coin Types: Pine Tree Shillings
Found By: Construction Laborer
Age of Coins: 1652
In 1876, grocery store owner C.H. Emerson of Exeter, New Hampshire, decided to expand his shop and add a cellar. Construction began in October, with laborers digging the cellar by hand and piling the excess dirt beside the store. Eager to clear the debris, Emerson arranged for a laborer to remove it the following day.
While shoveling the dirt, the worker spotted two silver coins—later identified as Pine Tree Shillings from 1652. Intrigued, he continued digging and soon uncovered the remains of a wooden box. Further excavation revealed a remarkable discovery: over 40 Massachusetts Shillings, all bearing the 1652 date. Experts believe the coins were hidden in what was once a garden, likely buried by early settlers in the absence of a formal banking system in 17th-century Exeter.
The Exeter Hoard, as it came to be known, was a rare find of colonial-era coins. All the coins were eventually sold to collectors, preserving a piece of early American numismatic history.
18. The Economite Hoard
Main Coin Types: U.S. Silver Coins
Found By: Construction workers in Pennsylvania
Age of Coins: Late 18th and early 19th century
In 1878, construction workers renovating a former Harmonist Society settlement in Economy, Pennsylvania, discovered a stash of hundreds of early U.S. silver coins sealed inside a bricked-up chamber. The coins had likely been hidden by the Economite religious community around 1836 before they abandoned the site. The majority of the coins were Flowing Hair silver dollars and half dollars. The face value of this hoard was around $75,000, and many of the coins were sold privately for a premium. Most of the half dollars sold for between fifty and sixty cents, while the dollars sold between $1.15 (Bust Dollars) and $1.30 (Flowing Hair Dollars). One 1794 silver dollar sold for $22.
19. The Aaron White Hoard
Main Coin Types: Colonial and Early U.S. Coins
Found By: Discovered after White’s death
Age of Coins: Late 18th to early 19th century
Aaron White, a New England lawyer, amassed a remarkable collection of colonial-era and early U.S. coins, which remained hidden until he died in 1866. The hoard contained some of the finest surviving examples of early American coinage, including Fugio Cents, Large Cents, and early Half Dollars. It had over 160,000 coins, including 350 gold dollars, 100 silver dollars, 200 half dollars, and tens of thousands of world coins, copper, and nickel cents. The value was estimated to be several million dollars, and coins were auctioned off to private collectors.
20. The Montana Hoard
Main Coin Types: Morgan Silver Dollars
Found By: George Bouvier’s family members after he confided in a friend about the hoard while on his deathbed.
Age of Coins: Late 19th to early 20th century
George Bouvier didn’t trust banks or government institutions, which is why over 17,000 silver dollars were stashed in his house’s walls and floors. Throughout his lifetime, he collected silver, mainly Morgan Silver Dollars, in his home in Deer Lodge, Montana. On his deathbed, he revealed to a friend that he had the coins, and later that friend confided in his family members. The family was shocked to find over 17,000 coins in excellent condition hidden in his walls and coffee cans placed under his floors. The value of this hoard is undetermined, and most of it was sold to coin dealers. Littleton Coin Dealer bought enough 1921 Morgan Dollars to create over 500 sets.
21. The Castine Hoard
Main Coin Types: French and Spanish Colonial Coins
Found By: Captain Stephen Grindle and his son digging at their farm near Fort Pentagoet, Maine
Age of Coins: 17th century
In 1840, Stephen Grindle and his son dug on their property near the old French fort of Pentagoet in Castine, Maine. They discovered a small but historically significant hoard of colonial-era coins, including French coins, Spanish silver pieces, pine tree shillings, and others. After discovering around 20 coins, they had to leave and could not return until the spring of the following year. In 1841, they found a cache of over 500 coins from the 17th century. An early settler or soldier likely buried these coins before the region changed hands between European powers. However, some experts believe they belonged to Baron Jean-Vincent d’Abbadie de Saint-Castin, the French soldier the town was named after. Upon discovery, Stephen Grindle is rumored to have used some of the coins to pay debtors, but the Maine Historical Society still has a small number of them.
22. The Bass Coin Hoard
Main Coin Types: U.S. Gold Coins, Rare Pattern Coins, and Unique Pieces
Found By: Collected by Harry W. Bass Jr.
Age of Coins: Mid-19th to early 20th century
Harry W. Bass Jr. was an influential numismatist of the 20th century, curating a collection of some of the rarest U.S. gold coins, including unique pattern coins and rare $3 gold pieces. While not a buried hoard, the collection represents one of the most valuable accumulations of U.S. coinage ever assembled. After he died in 1998, the collection was valued at over $50 million. Portions of the collection were donated to museums, while others were auctioned for charitable causes. The auctioned portions of this coin hoard fetched a price of over $83 million.
Is Hidden Treasure Still Out There?
From legendary shipwrecks and Civil War-era caches to forgotten bank vaults and ancient Roman stashes, these remarkable coin hoards continue to captivate collectors and historians alike. Whether discovered by accident or through meticulous searching, each find tells a unique story about the past and serves as a reminder that hidden treasure might still be waiting to be unearthed.
