A California couple were walking their dog in February 2013 when the woman spotted a rusty tin can sticking out of the soil on their property. They dug it out - and found it packed with 19th-century gold coins. Eight canisters total, containing 1,427 Gold Rush-era coins dated 1847-1894. Face value: $27,980. Market value: $10 million.

They Found $10 Million in Gold Coins While Walking the Dog

Posted 17 days ago·Updated 14 minutes ago

Most people walk their dog hoping for a quiet stroll. A California couple walked theirs and came home with the largest buried gold coin discovery in American history.

A Tin Can That Changed Everything

In February 2013, a woman known only as "Mary" was walking her dog on their rural Northern California property when she noticed a rusty tin can poking out of the soil. She and her husband "John" dug it out carefully - and immediately noticed it was far too heavy. When they opened it, they found it packed solid with 19th-century gold coins.

The couple returned to the spot with a metal detector and searched methodically. By the time they were done, they had uncovered eight tin canisters in total, all buried on their property. Together, they held 1,427 gold coins.

Gold Rush Fortune Hidden in the Ground

The coins were sent to David J. McCarthy of Kagin's, a respected numismatics firm in Tiburon, California, who performed the initial evaluation. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) independently authenticated them all. The coins dated from 1847 to 1894 - spanning the entire California Gold Rush era and beyond - and included $20 Double Eagles, $10 Eagles, and $5 Half Eagles.

The total face value of all 1,427 coins: $27,980. But many were in near-perfect, uncirculated condition. Over a dozen were graded as the finest known examples of their type in existence. A single 1866-S Double Eagle in the collection was estimated at approximately $1 million on its own.

$27,980 on Paper. $10 Million in Reality.

The total market value of the Saddle Ridge Hoard was estimated at approximately $10 million - making it the largest known buried gold coin discovery ever recorded in the United States. The coins were sold through an exclusive arrangement with Amazon Collectibles and at auction. The couple - who chose to remain completely anonymous throughout - said they planned to use the proceeds to pay off personal debt and make charitable donations, while keeping a small number of coins as family heirlooms.

Who Buried It?

Nobody knows. The property sits within 200 miles of the original 1849 Gold Rush sites, and the coin dates span the most active period of California gold mining. John and Mary had lived on the property for several years without any idea the coins were there. The mystery of who buried them - and why - has never been solved.

Source:Wikipedia / Kagin's Numismatics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Saddle Ridge Hoard?

The Saddle Ridge Hoard is a cache of 1,427 gold coins discovered in February 2013 by a couple walking their dog on their rural Northern California property. It is the largest known buried gold coin discovery in United States history, with coins dated 1847-1894 and a total estimated market value of approximately $10 million.

How were the Saddle Ridge gold coins found?

A woman known as 'Mary' spotted a rusty tin can sticking out of the soil during a dog walk on their property. She and her husband 'John' dug it out and found it packed with gold coins. Returning with a metal detector, they uncovered seven more buried canisters, for a total of eight containers holding 1,427 coins.

How much are the Saddle Ridge Hoard coins worth?

The coins have a face value of $27,980 - made up of $27,460 in $20 Double Eagles, $500 in $10 Eagles, and $20 in $5 Half Eagles. Their market value was estimated at approximately $10 million, with some individual coins worth up to $1 million each due to their rarity and near-perfect condition.

Who authenticated the Saddle Ridge Hoard coins?

The coins were initially evaluated by numismatist David J. McCarthy of Kagin's, a respected coin firm in Tiburon, California. They were independently authenticated by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), which confirmed over a dozen coins as the finest known examples of their type.

What happened to the Saddle Ridge Hoard coins?

The coins were sold through an exclusive arrangement with Amazon Collectibles and at auction. The anonymous couple - known only as John and Mary - said they planned to use the proceeds to pay off personal debt and make charitable donations, while keeping a few coins as family heirlooms.

Verified Fact

Core claims verified via Wikipedia (Saddle Ridge Hoard article) and Kellyco Metal Detectors article. Coin counts confirmed: 1,427 total across 8 canisters. Face value $27,980 ($27,460 in $20 coins, $500 in $10 coins, $20 in $5 coins). Market value ~$10 million. Discovery: February 2013, woman spotted rusty tin can sticking out of soil during dog walk (sourced from Kellyco). PCGS authentication confirmed. David J. McCarthy of Kagins did initial evaluation. Sold via Amazon Collectibles. Couple anonymous as John and Mary. Shadow of an old tree detail from user brief NOT independently sourced - not used. Eight canisters total confirmed. Ice chest hiding detail sourced from Kellyco article. 1866-S Double Eagle $1 million estimate from Wikipedia. Coin-theft-from-mint speculation omitted per pure-positive constraint.

Wikipedia / Kagin's Numismatics