A man in Kentucky recently made the discovery of a lifetime when he stumbled upon a buried cache of nearly 700 gold coins from the Civil War period. The discovery, which is being called "The Great Kentucky Hoard," is rumored to hold millions of dollars worth of gold and silver.

Consisting of $1, $10, and $20 gold coins issued by the US Mint between 1840 and 1863, the hoard includes some of the rarest coins from the era. The find also includes 18 of the 1863-P $20 1-ounce gold liberty coins, which can fetch six figures at auction. These coins were minted by the US Treasury after gold was discovered in California and do not include the phrase "In God We Trust," which was added after the end of the Civil War.

According to archaeologist Ryan McNutt, who specializes in conflict areas, it is possible that the hoard was buried in advance of Confederate John Hunt Morgan's June to July 1863 raid, as Kentucky was still neutral at the time. While many wealthy Kentuckians are rumored to have buried large quantities of gold and silver before the Civil War, this is one of the largest hoards ever discovered.

The hoard was certified by the Numismatic Guaranty Co. (NGC), which confirmed its authenticity. The finder, who recorded a video on his phone, was understandably excited about the discovery, calling it "the most insane thing ever." The find is a reminder that treasures can still be found in unlikely places.