Each year Virginia unclaimed property division clears out the vault of missing property to auction it off. The state treasury holds these items for long periods of time, but when the vault fills up they hold an auction to clear out space for new items.
Virginia Unclaimed Property Auction Open Now
The auction is live now online and has over 900 items up for bid. Other state’s auctions include only jewelry and lost currency, but Virginia’s has a wide range of items up for auction. The premier item this year is a 12.5 carat diamond ring valued at $330,000 according to an article. This ring is a light yellow round brilliant diamond in a platinum setting. The minimum bid is set at just $25,000.
The jewelry and watches section of the auction, which has 578 items, also includes, a platinum and diamond bracelet valued at $150,000. There are several watches including several Rolexes, Tag Huer, Citizen, and Seiko brands.
Another major area of Virginia unclaimed property division’s auction is the coins and currency section. These items include, $2 bills, golden US coins, foreign currency (both paper and coin) and gold bars. The Foreign currency includes monies from the UK, Mexico, and even Iraq.
The unique piece to this auction is the “Other” section which holds 177 items. These items vary from a silver pitcher and salt/pepper shakers, to IPads and XBoxes. They also include a Super Nintendo, wireless speakers, a pair of sneakers, calculators and a belt buckle.
This auction is now live and ends May 7th at 7pm. That day, the final day of bidding, the treasury will hold a ‘preview’ for all items in Richmond, VA. All items must be picked up/shipped the following day, May 8th. These items are for bid to the general public, not just Virginia residents. Don’t sweat if these items are actually yours, the state holds the proceeds in your name, so you can still claim them.