Mystery of $10m buried treasure

2014-02-26 292

This is part of a huge haul of buried treasure found by a couple walking their dog in California last year.

The currency firm representing the finders say the 1, 400 gold rush-era coins could be worth a record $10 million.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) DON KAGIN, PRESIDENT AND OWNER OF KAGIN'S INC CURRENCY FIRM, SAYING:

"Over the last few decades that we've been here in northern California people have brought us gold coins, rare coins, worth tens of thousands of dollars but nothing, nothing of this magnitude."

The finders, who want to keep their identity secret, struck it lucky when they spotted a rusty metal can on their land and dug it out.

When they found it was packed with 19th century gold coins they searched around and found more.

Who originally buried the $20 coins and why remains a mystery.

Most of the coins will be sold online on behalf of the finders who are thought to have stumbled on the biggest haul of buried treasure in U.S. history.