"Gunsmoke" was a television program which ran on the CBS television network from 1955 to 1975. It was a one-half hour program from 1955 to 1961 and a one-hour program from 1961 to 1975. This episode is one-hour long. The regular characters are Matt Dillon, the Marshall or Sheriff of the town of Dodge City, Kansas. Miss Kitty runs a saloon, Festus Haggen is Matt's deputy, and Doc Adams is the town doctor. The show was set in the 1870's to 1880's. This episode is titled "Hard Luck Henry" and was first broadcast on October 23, 1967. Henry Haggen, a cousin of Festus Haggen, arrives with several other Haggens. They are transporting a "Confederate Treasure" consisting of a chest filled with gold coins. Festus suggests that they give the money to Marshall Dillon. The Haggens are followed by another family, the Dooleys, who want the money for themselves. The chest appears several times with it's contents. The prop or imitation coins look like real Spanish or Mexican eight escudo gold coins or "doubloons". The real coins would have circulated in the United States and Confederate States during the 1860's.

At a saloon table three people are seated.

A man comes into the saloon, introduces himself as Henry Haggen, and asks where Festus is. Festus is hiding from Henry as Henry is considered to be a "jinx" and is known as "Hard-Luck Henry". Henry catches up with Festus and they ride into the country.

The Haggens have a wagon and are carrying a box.

The box has a Confederate flag laying on it. The Haggens open the box to show the contents to Festus.

The Haggens claim that they found the box. Festus suggests that they turn the box over to Marshall Dillon, the local federal officer.

The men swear an oath to guard the treasure. Another family, the Dooleys, have been following the Haggens.

The Haggens stop at the Walsh farm for supplies.

Charlie Walsh, a little boy, climbs into the wagon.

Charlie opens the box.

Charlie puts some of the coins into his pockets and is later found by Jefferson Dooley. Charlie's father arrives and rescues his son but now the Dooleys know about the gold.

The coins in the box are prop or imitation coins which resemble Spanish gold eight escudo coins or "doubloons". These prop coins have appeared in other programs and look real.

A Spanish doubloon gold coin:

Gold, 38 mm, 27.0 gm
Obverse:
King Charles IV facing right
CAROL IIII D G HISP ET IND R 1806
(Charles IV, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies)
Reverse:
Crowned shield of Spain
IN UTROQ FELIX AUSPICE DEO (For both sides, happiness under the auspices of God)
8 S (8 Scudi, Latin for escudos)
Mo TH (Mexico City Mint, Assayer initials)

Jeff Dooley sneaks to the Haggen camp.

He is caught but later runs off and joins his brothers. The Dooleys lure the Haggens to a quicksand pit and a gunfight ensues.

Harper Haggen has a bright idea.

Harper Haggen takes the box and dumps it into the quicksand. Matt Dillon and Festus arrive.

The gunfight stops while everyone watches the box sink into the quicksand.

James Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon
Milburn Stone as Doc
Amanda Blake as Kitty
Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen
John Astin as Hard-Luck Henry Haggen
Charles Kuenstle as Homer Haggen
Bo Hopkins as Harper Haggen
Mayf Nutter as Heathcliff Haggen
Royal Dano as Jefferson Dooley
Anthony James as Reb Dooley
John Shank as Truly Dooley
Bobby Riha as Charlie Walsh
Director: John Rich
Writers: Warren Douglas, Paul Savage, Norman MacDonnell