Treasure trove of rare coins found in dilapidated home

A coin collectors dream was found buried within the walls of a Windber home: rare coins worth at least $100,000.

The coins spanned five feet of wall space and date back to the 1700s, said Jeff Bidelman, who helped make the discovery.

Bidelman said the family who lives at the home told him about a rumor that coins might be hidden in the walls. He said he went with the family to the house, noticed a hole and began knocking to find a hollow spot. Once he found the spot, he kicked in the wall and cut the coins loose.



“They poured out. The force of them … Was crazy,” Bidelman said.

He said an older couple who lived in the home 20 years ago used the wall as a piggy bank. That turned into a tradition, with more and more people adding to the wall bank.

Bidelman said he is selling the coins on behalf of the family and will continue to give them the proceeds.

With news video.