A Kentucky farmer was digging in his cornfield earlier this year when he discovered more than 700 coins. About 95% of the windfall dates back to the American Civil War. The accidental discovery of a Civil War hoard included rare minted coins and has now been named the “Great Kentucky Khoard.”
According to the Numismatic Guaranty Company ( NGC ), who certified the coin’s authenticity, the trove of rare Civil War coins includes “the most famous 1863 double eagles, as well as several varieties and errors interesting”. The lucky farmer from the Bluegrass State told Live Science that the discovery was “the craziest thing ever.”
Pulling Wealth from the Earth: The Civil War Hoard
The finder of the treasure, which includes hundreds of gold coins dating from 1840 to 1863, along with a handful of silver coins, has decided to remain anonymous. “Those are all $1 gold coins, $20 gold coins, $10 gold coins,” the finder on GovMint.com said as he pulled the coins from the hoard Civil War archives from his cornfield.
NGC claims that approximately 95% of the hoard consists of gold dollars and that it includes “approximately 20 $10 Liberty coins and 8 $20 Liberty coins.” A report in Live Science highlights that “one of these coins could fetch a six-figure price at auction.” The Great Kentucky Hoard boasts 18 of them!
The rarest coin in the Civil War hoard is the 1863-P $20 1-ounce gold Liberty coin, which circulated from 1850 to 1907. What makes this coin especially rare is that Its face was not stamped with the words “In God We Trust. ” They were added in 1866 after the end of the Civil War .
The Civil War hoard is made up of more than 700 Civil War coins. (Digital guarantee company)
Bury quickly, here’s Morgan
Professor McNutt, a conflict archaeologist at Georgia Southern University’s Archaeological Laboratory, told Live Science that the coins were in fact unearthed in Kentucky, which was neutral at the time. that point, meaning the treasure was probably “buried before Confederate John Hunt Morgan.” daring raids in June and July 1863.
Leading a force of 2,400 cavalry, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan’s June–July 1863 raid left an indelible mark on the American Civil War. In 46 days, the raid covered more than 1,000 miles through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, destroying supply lines and causing panic among civilians.
Morgan’s guerrilla tactics confused Union forces, allowing him to evade capture several times. While Morgan was eventually captured, his legendary raid cemented his reputation as one of the most daring and resourceful Confederate commanders of the American Civil War.
Panic in Louisville, Kentucky as John Hunt Morgan’s army approached the city. One archaeologist has argued that the Civil War hoard was buried before Morgan’s raid. (Public domain)
The lost legacy of the Kentuckian plunder
Because this trove of coins represents federal currency, McNutt suspects it may have been left behind as a result of “Kentuckians’ dealings with the federal government.” The archaeologist explains that many Americans affected by the Civil War became experienced in hiding goods and valuables from Confederate raiding parties.
Another example given of hidden Kentuckian treasure was James Langstaff, who wrote a letter claiming that he had buried “$20,000 in coins on his property in Paducah.” Furthermore, Live Science reported on William Pettit, who buried “$80,000 worth of gold coins near Lexington.”
Because neither of these Civil War coin hoards has been discovered to date, a great deal of value is associated with the recently discovered Civil War hoard, both financially and historically.
Will federal law harm American archeology?
US law stipulates that any historical finds made on private land “need not be reported.” Professor McNutt emphasized that as a result, the majority of ancient artifacts found on private land will be sold at auction without being studied by archaeologists; a situation in which he found “disappointing.”
However, in this case, McNutt’s efforts to invest time in developing strong relationships with landowners through education and outreach paid off. Thanks to the finder’s report of Civil War treasure discovered on his land, this special “snapshot of the past” won’t be lost forever.
US archeology laws have faced harsh criticism for perceived shortcomings, with critics claiming that fragmented laws, insufficient funding, and limited enforcement hinder conservation. Protect and preserve archaeological sites and artifacts.
The American Antiquities Act protects any “ancient object” although the term does not define it. The Archaeological Resources Protection Act ( ARPA ) resolves the ambiguity of this term by stating that it means “any physical remains of archaeological interest.” However, ARPA does not consider objects less than 100 years old or paleontological objects such as fossils to be “archaeological.”
