A Philadelphia family that securely stored a coin collection for over a century in a bank vault recently found out that it is worth much more than they ever thought, writes Josephine Fuller for The U.S. Sun.

The collection, now known as The Henry Chapman Collection, was assembled by the legendary Philadelphia coin dealer and auctioneer and given to the family for safekeeping.

Among the items included in the lot are 51 Coronet and Indian Head gold dollar coins that date back to the mid- and late-1800s and eight US commemorative gold dollars from the early 1900s.

The family, who wish to remain anonymous, believed that the collection was worth around $50,000 and were shocked to learn that it was insured for $2 million.

“Chapman personally began assembling this collection for a banking family in 1899, and the coins have remained in the family’s possession continuously for generations,” said Luis Martinez, founder and president of Matador Rare Coins.

All the coins in the collection have been certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service. Many have received a 68 and above rating, with the highest score being 70.

Read more about the Philadelphia family with a top-tier coin collection that could be worth millions in The U.S. Sun.

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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on DELCO Today in April 2024.