Civil War-era coin trove unearthed in Kentucky, 1,100-year-old Viking burial found in Norway, possible oldest settlement in North America discovered in Oregon.

$2 Million Trove Of Civil War-Era Coins Uncovered By A Kentucky Farmer Out Plowing His Cornfield

GovMintSome of the rarest coins uncovered as part of this $2 million trove are the 1863 Double Eagles, which can fetch a whopping six figures per coin at auction.

After Kentucky declared neutrality at the outset of the Civil War, tensions ran high as neighbors and families were pitted against each other. With the threat of bloodshed looming, increasingly anxious citizens were left with little choice but to bury their life savings in order to keep it safe.

Even many of the state’s wealthiest residents are known to have buried their riches, with one man named James Langstaff burying $20,000 on his property in Paducah while William Pettit stashed $80,000 near Lexington. To this day, these troves — some worth upwards of $3 million when adjusted for inflation — have never been found.

But now, one lucky farmer in Kentucky has uncovered a trove of 800 Civil War-era coins while out plowing his cornfield. With an estimated value of $2 million, these gold and silver pieces are now being referred to as “The Great Kentucky Hoard.”

In the words of rare coin dealer Jeff Garrett, “The importance of this discovery cannot be overstated, as the stunning number of over 700 gold dollars represents a virtual time capsule of Civil War-era coinage.”