( CNN ) -- Eureka ! A husband and wife are reveling in their good fortune after finding $ 10 million in rare gold coins buried on their property in Northern California . The gold country discovery is thought to be the largest of its kind in U.S. history , according to David Hall , co-founder of Professional Coin Grading Service , which authenticated the find . `` It 's quite a story . People were walking along on their property in Northern California , noticed something , began digging and they found cans of gold coins , '' Hall said . `` It should have happened to you and me . '' The incredible find . The coins were unearthed in February 2013 by the husband and wife , who wish to remain anonymous . They were walking their dog when they spotted something shiny on the ground . The couple dug and eventually discovered eight metal cans , containing more than 1,400 gold coins . No one knows how they got there , or whom the coins might have belonged to . `` Somebody could have buried them and then died before they let anybody know where they were , '' Hall said . `` Believe it or not , I know cases where they forgot they had something , or they moved or whatever ... It could have been some kind of robbery deal ... Who knows ? '' The treasure is known as the `` Saddle Ridge Hoard '' because it was discovered near a hill the couple called Saddle Ridge . In their effort to stay anonymous , the husband and wife are n't saying exactly where the fortune was found . These coins could change history . The coins . The coins , in $ 5 , $ 10 and $ 20 denominations , date from 1847 to 1894 . Most were minted in San Francisco . They have a combined face value of about $ 27,000 , but experts believe they could fetch $ 10 million or more . 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 . The couple is planning to sell much of the collection . Approximately 90 % of the coins will go up on Amazon.com 's `` Collectibles '' site , according to Don Kagin , of Kagin 's , Inc. , who is assisting the anonymous owners . He told CNN the couple wants to donate some of the proceeds to charity . `` Basically they 're thankful and they think it 's wonderful that they 're going to be able to save their property that they thought they might lose and , again , they want to give back to the community and to needy people , '' he said . Collectors wanting a sneak peek can see some of the coins at the American Numismatic Association 's 2014 National Money Show in Atlanta , which opens Thursday . `` 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 . '' 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 .
NEW : A highlight is an 1866-S No Motto Double Eagle valued at close to $ 1 million . The coins , in $ 5 , $ 10 and $ 20 denominations , are dated from 1847 to 1894 . They have a combined face value of about $ 27,000 but could fetch $ 10 million or more . The discovery is thought to be the largest of its kind in U.S. history .