( CNN ) -- Chief Clerk Walter Dimmick was convicted of stealing six bags of gold coins -- worth $ 30,000 -- from the U.S. Mint in San Francisco in 1901 . More than 100 years later , a California couple unearthed a secret stash of coins , with a combined face value of about $ 28,000 . Most were minted in San Francisco . Coincidence ? Sure is , said Adam Stump , spokesman for the U.S. Mint . `` We do not have any information linking the Saddle Ridge Hoard coins to any thefts at any United States Mint facility , '' he told CNN . The spokesman was responding to the latest wave of speculation that kicked off after The San Francisco Chronicle published a report Monday , suggesting a turn-of-the-century heist could explain the possible provenance of the coins . Separately , Stump told the newspaper : `` We 've done quite a bit of research , and we 've got a crack team of lawyers , and trust me , if this was U.S. government property we 'd be going after it . '' The coins from the 1901 heist were never found . The so-called Saddle Ridge Hoard was discovered by a husband and wife in February 2013 on their property in Northern California . Though the coins have a face value of approximately $ 28,000 , experts believe they could fetch in excess of $ 10 million . The treasure is known as the Saddle Ridge Hoard because it was discovered near a hill the couple called Saddle Ridge . A golden mystery . The husband and wife were walking their dog when they spotted something metal on the ground . They dug and eventually discovered eight metal cans , containing more than 1,400 gold coins . Restoring and cleaning the coins has taken months . No one knows how they got there , or whom the coins might have belonged to . Don Kagin , of Kagin 's , Inc. , is assisting the owners , who wish to remain anonymous . `` The best theory is that -- and this is collaborated somewhat with doing some research , title searches , etc . from back in 1800s -- that someone in the mining business , as he got his remuneration , his bonuses , whatever , he would take the gold from the banks and put it into the ground in these cans , '' he told CNN . `` Back then , they did n't always trust the banks . '' Kagin dismissed the idea that the coins could be connected to the turn-of-the-century heist . `` If you had robbed the U.S. Mint in 1901 , you 'd have 1901 , 1900 , 1899 coins . But instead what you have here are coins from 1894 and before , '' he said . `` We vetted this long time ago . We know the story of Dimmick . The only thing that is remotely similar is the amount of value . '' The coins , in $ 5 , $ 10 and $ 20 denominations , date from 1847 to 1894 . Many are in pristine condition , including at least 14 coins that are considered the finest known for their date and mint mark . A highlight from the hoard is an 1866-S No Motto Double Eagle , valued at close to $ 1 million . `` Nothing resonates like buried treasure , '' Kagin said , as a smile broke across his face . `` These are not just coins , but they are artifacts . They tell a story ... They speak to us . It 's like holding history in your hands . '' The couple is planning to sell most of the collection . Some will be sold on Kagin 's website , but most on Amazon , probably in May . `` Unlike other hoards and treasures , this one includes a great variety of coins struck over many different years , and many of the coins are still in pristine condition , '' Kagin said . `` And add to that a wonderful human interest story : this family literally found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow . '' These coins could change history . Rare coin collection set to make a mint . Bought for $ 3 at yard sale , bowl sells for $ 2.2 million . Fisherman hooks statue of ancient Greek god Apollo . CNN 's Dan Simon and Steve Forrest contributed to this report .
`` We vetted this long time ago , '' says someone assisting the owners of the coins . In 1901 , gold coins worth some $ 30,000 were stolen from the U.S. Mint in San Francisco . Last year , a California couple unearthed a stash of coins that had a similar face value . The thieves used an automated system to create fake faces for each coin and then sold them on eBay at prices as high as $8,000 apiece.