Officials in Carson City, Nevada have declared a California woman the rightful owner of $7.4 million in gold coins found in the home of her late cousin.

City Clerk-Recorder Alan Glover said a month's worth of genealogical research determined Arlene Magdanz, a first cousin to the late Walter Samasko Jr., was the only living relative of the man, who died in May.

Her attorney said that the first words out of his client's mouth when she learned of the possible inheritance in September were: 'Oh my God, Oh my God.'

Officials found the treasure at Glover's Nevada home, along with his decaying body, one month later after neighbours complained of a foul smell. He was 69 years old and he left behind just $200 in the bank. He hadn't worked since 1968 and was living off stock investments of $140,000 and $25,000.

The gold coins were stowed away in boxes labeled 'books' in Samasko's garage.Glover had died from heart problems, a coroner found, at least one month before he was discovered.

Leaving no will, and with no known relatives, officials set about tracking down a list of people who had attended Samasko's mother's funeral after she died in 1992, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

She had not spoken to her cousin for a year.The gold, including coins from Mexico, England, Austria and South Africa dating to 1872, was hauled from the garage using a wheelbarrow and truck, then deposited for safekeeping.

To read the complete article, see:California woman inherits $7million in gold coins found in garage of dead cousin... whom she hadn't spoken to for a YEAR (www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2248280/California-woman-inherits
-7million-gold-coins-garage-dead-cousin--hadnt-spoken-YEAR.html)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:NEVADA MAN DIES WITH GARAGE FULL OF GOLD(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n40a24.html)