60 pounds of silver coins found in abandoned St. Cloud home

ST. CLOUD, Fla. — Channel 9 learned the homeowner had more than $500,000 in code enforcement fines that added up throughout a 10-year period, and as a result, had abandoned the Minnesota Avenue property.

The home had been vacant for about a year before code enforcement went in.

"There was boxes, there was clothing, there was furniture, but you literally had to climb over stuff to even get through the structure," said St. Cloud Code Enforcement Officer Melissa Howes.

Also inside were over 30 pounds of silver coins that officials believe may have been hidden in the walls of the home before the previous owner even moved in.

As the home was being torn down, crews heard the change hitting the dumpster.

"We found the coins, and they were everywhere. We heard the clink, clink, clink, at the bottom of the dumpster," said Howes.

In all, crews found more than 1,000 quarters, nearly 900 half-dollars, about 200 dimes and three nickels. Officials said the coins are so old that some of them are 90 percent silver.

"It was kind of like a treasure hunt.  Everybody that was there was digging in this filth picking up these coins," said Howes.

Officials said they're not sure how much the coins are worth, but the oldest one dates back to 1917.

Because the city of St. Cloud owns the property they plan to put the money back into the city's general fund.

WFTV