Feeling Lucky?
Did you know there are still plenty of lost treasures out there, some that are worth millions and millions of dollars? To pique your adventurous interest, here are 20 treasures, some that are lost, and some that have recently been found just to prove how possible it is. Happy hunting!
1. Forest Fenn’s Rocky Mountains
To start off, let’s consider the one treasure on this list that has actually been found as recently as 2017. The Forest Fenn’s treasure was hidden by an art dealer and author for the sole purpose of testing would-be hunters. He claimed to have hidden it somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, with an estimated value of $2 million dollars. Leaving nothing but a poem, some lucky hunters were able to decipher it and win the riches.
2. Jesse James’ Treasure
Other treasures, such as this one, are still waiting to be found. Hidden by an infamous outlaw and his gang, this treasure is said to be worth $1 to $2 million and lies somewhere in Missouri or even the Ozarks. While it’s hard to come by clues, some say there are hints hidden in the area where the treasure is buried.
3. East Idaho Stagecoach Robbery Treasure
In the 1860s, after a sudden stagecoach robbery, the thieves buried over $100,000 worth of cash and gold next to a secluded riverbank. That is unfortunately all that is known, although many believe the robbery to have taken place along the Snake River in East Idaho.
4. Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine
It turns out plenty of these lost mines are full of treasure waiting to be rallied up. In fact, the Lost Dutchman’s mine is worth a staggering $300 million in terms of gold and is said to be hidden in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. While there are no physical clues, oral hints and stories have been passed down since the 19th century.
5. Beale Ciphers
Thomas Beale once hid three ciphers in the 1820s, stating that they were hints that lead to his treasure trove, which is worth an estimated $43 million. This treasure hides somewhere in Bedford County, Virginia, and two of the three ciphers actually have been partially decoded.
6. Dutch Schultz’s Hidden Treasure
Many crimes have led to impromptu treasure hunts, and this story is no different. A criminal known as Dutch Schultz hid over $7 million in gold and cash somewhere in the Catskill Mountains in New York. Unfortunately, no clues have been found, as Schultz passed before he was able to share more.
7. The Faberge Eggs
These famous eggs have a tragic backstory, as they were created by a Russian jeweler for the royal family and were since lost during the Russian revolution. Their existence is confirmed, and the set is worth an astounding $300 million. In reality, they could be anywhere in the world, as many rumors tie them to different locations, including the States.
8. Blackbeard’s Atlantic Coast Treasure
Shifting from land to water, the sea is a trove of treasures. There may be no pirate more infamous than Blackbeard, and it turns out he hid roughly $2 million worth of loot somewhere off the coast of North Carolina. Many believe the treasure to be near Ocracoke Island, but it has yet to be found.
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9. The Lost Confederate Gold
The Civil War led to many significant changes, with an unexpected addition of a lost treasure worth $10 to $20 million dollars. Apparently, this treasure was taken by Confederate officials to hide it from Union forces and is said to be buried near a river in the Appalachian Mountains.
10. Sillinger’s Small Bills
This is another crime story, in which a robbery occurs in the 1930s and the gang decides to hide the stash in the Nevada desert. Supposedly, the stash is worth $500,000 and the exact spot remains unknown.
11. The Lost Rhoades Gold Mines
Like the Dutchman’s mine, this one is estimated to house over $500 million dollars worth of gold and was hidden by a prospector named Thomas Rhoades in the 1800s. Many believe it to be in a canyon somewhere in the Arizona desert, despite unsuccessful extensive searches.
12. Ted Binion’s Nevada Stash
Nevada just seemed to be full of treasures, as another stash was hidden by Ted Binion, who was a wealthy casino owner. He hid over $7 million dollars worth of gold, bills, and metals— and guess what, it actually has been found!
13. The San Saba Treasure
One treasure that has yet to be found, on the other hand, is the San Saba silver vein, which was hidden by the Spanish conquistador that discovered it in the 1700s. The silver within is said to be worth $50 million and is buried near a creek in San Saba County in Texas.
14. The Lost Silver Mines of Cerro Gordo
Speaking of silver, in the 1800s, a bunch of miners were forced to abandon a mine during a revolt, leaving millions of dollars worth of silver waiting to be found in the mountains of California. Some believe the treasure was buried in the mine shafts, or hidden elsewhere in the mountains.
15. Hawaii Palemano Point Pirate Treasure
Another pirate story worth considering is the $1 million dollar stash buried by pirates in Hawaii in the 1800s. Many believe the stash to be hidden near the shoreline or perhaps in a cave by Palemano Point.
16. The Lost Ship of the Desert
Ships and deserts may sound counter-intuitive, but supposedly a cargo ship was carrying over $5 million dollars worth of loot which vanished once it entered the Mojave Desert in California.
17. The Treasure of Captain Kidd
Returning to the world of pirates, Captain William Kidd carved out quite the name for himself in the 1700s, and supposedly hid $10 million dollars worth of jewels and gold somewhere in the Caribbean, along the eastern coast of the United States. Many believe the treasure to be near Long Island, but none have found it yet.
18. The Old Ozark Treasure Cave
The Ozark mountains in Missouri are treacherous and large, making them the perfect spot to hide $5 million worth of loot you don’t want anyone to find. The early Native American tribal settlers supposedly hid this treasure in the 1800s and concealed it with natural features.
19. The Lost Treasure of Atocha
This is another treasure that actually was found in 1985. After a Spanish galleon sank off the coast of Florida in 1622, over $450 million dollars worth of gems and gold was buried with the wreckage, waiting to be revealed on the ocean floor.
20. Mosby’s Treasure in Virginia
Unlike the Atocha treasure, Mosby’s treasure is still very much lost and is said to be worth over $1 million. This treasure was hidden by a Confederate general named John Mosby, who aimed to hide it from Union forces by burying it somewhere secluded in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
