The "gold" in the film was actually a burlap sack full of miscellaneous loose change which totaled $32.27 which if adjusted for inflation would have been approximately $970.64 in 1894.
Since the film was shot in January with temperatures usually hovering around 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit, all the water scenes were shot back to back. After the scene where Elias drags Richard through the icy river, the shot where Elias is pulled underwater was shot immediately after.
Shane Morrisun's pipe used in the film was actually filled with ground sage from Ayden Tyler Hatch's spice cupboard
J.R. Curtis was sick for 2 weeks with Influenza A after shooting the scene where he is pulled underwater. Upon cutting camera, he had a 10 minute run back to the warm car to dry off.