Pan of Gold

[Ism]

Researching a cache lead, I found a story that said the property owner found a "pan of gold".
The property is where the cache (gold coins) was reported to have been buried.
Has anybody heard the use of this term in a historical content?
Could "pan of gold" indicate a volume of gold coins?

 

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[Salvor6]

"Pan of gold" usually refers to the prospectors that panned the rivers for flecks of gold dust. It could be a sifting pan with tiny flakes of gold in it.

 

[Ism]

Salvor6, Without going into too much detail, "pan of gold" in this particular instance could not be the standard use of the term (as you described).
That's why I asked if there was historical significance to it's use in relation to gold coins. If the story is referring to an actual pan made of gold, then the cache was not recovered at that time.
Thanks for your reply

 

[Curtis]

I think they are referring to a prospector having filled a pan of gold flakes from his diggings or creek....like someone had filled the pan full, its probably what they kept their gold in and may refer to a larger pan to store it in....don't think it would mean a pan made of gold....not very particle and those guys were very practical.