SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A unique auction featuring a collection of unclaimed treasures is set to take place online from September 19 to September 28, providing residents with an opportunity to snag some rare finds.
Among the items up for bid are a set of collectible pins from the iconic 1989 Chicago Bears, baseball cards featuring Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron, and even a stunning 14-karat yellow gold Omega women's watch.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs expressed excitement about the auction, stating, “Our online auction is a great opportunity for everyone to explore and find distinctive items to keep or to give as gifts.” He encouraged sports enthusiasts to check out the selection of vintage baseball, basketball, and hockey cards available.
The auction also boasts an impressive lineup of sports collectibles featuring legendary figures such as Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Wayne Gretzky, and Brett Hull.
In addition to the sports memorabilia, bidders will find a diverse array of items including:
- Two pocket watches: an Illinois Bunn Special and a Hamilton 992B
- An 1899 U.S. $1 “Black Eagle” silver certificate
- A 10-ounce Golden State Mint .999 fine silver bar
- Three 1890 CC Morgan silver dollars
- A 14-karat yellow gold money clip with a 1924 U.S. $20 gold coin
- A 14-karat rose gold floral pin featuring stones
- A variety of political campaign pins
- Bicentennial items such as First Day Covers and medallions of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson In total, 150 lots will be auctioned, with some lots containing multiple items.
Interested bidders can view the full catalog on the HiBid website.
To participate, potential bidders must create an account on HiBid. This can be done by visiting hibid.com and selecting “Create Account” or by navigating to the catalog and clicking on “Register to Bid.” For further assistance, individuals can call 217.557.8567.
This online auction follows a highly successful in-person auction held during the Illinois State Fair in August, where records were set for total sales of $374,582 and a single item's sales price—a 10-ounce gold bar that fetched $33,500.
The Treasurer’s Office manages unclaimed property, which includes lost bank accounts, insurance payouts, unpaid rebate cards, and items from safe deposit boxes.
Items are surrendered to the office after private entities have exhausted efforts to locate the original owners. The Treasurer's Office regularly conducts online auctions to manage the unclaimed items effectively, as they lack the space to store them indefinitely.
Typically, the items in these auctions have been untouched for a decade. Any proceeds from the auctions will be held for the rightful owners, no matter how long it takes to locate them.
More Top Stories:
Protesters warn that ADM's proposed CO2 project puts Decatur water at risk
Illinois assistant principal among 3 killed in ‘domestic-related' shooting near school
Meet Blake Allison, Millikin football's 31-year-old kicker
Something strange in Decatur's neighborhood with writer Troy Taylor coming to town
Ammons and Faraci lead town hall to hear concerns on rising energy cuts; experts give advice
Copyright 2025. WANDTV. All Rights Reserved.
