Baltimore Gold Hoard

In 1934, a hoard of gold coins was discovered by two teenage boys (Theodore Jones, 16, and Henry Grob, 15) in Baltimore, Maryland.

The two boys discovered copper pots containing 3,558 gold coins while digging in the dirt of a cellar.

The decision was appealed and in 1937 the boys were again awarded the money which came to $7,000 each, (equivalent to $159,433 in 2023) after court costs and attorney fees.

In 1935 while awaiting the ruling in their case they again dug in the cellar and this time they found another gold hoard worth $10,000 (equivalent to $227,761 in 2023).

[1] The two boys had formed a club and they intended to create a hiding place for dues that they planned to collect.

[9] The coins and money from the second discovery were reportedly stolen: $5,000 in gold and $3,100 in cash were taken from a trunk on the second floor.

[10] Henry Grob's stepfather Philip A. Rummel claimed that his life savings were in the trunk.

[12] Henry Grob never collected his share of the find because he died while litigation over possession of the gold was ongoing.

He was admitted to South Baltimore General Hospital for a week and died of pneumonia on August 25, 1937.

Judge Dennis heard the second case and decided that the boys were entitled to the money from the second discovery because "Conditions surrounding the two finds were not different enough to warrant giving the second to the property owners.