DENVER—Colorado State Treasurer Cary Kennedy now has an expert assessment of some of the unclaimed property now in the hands of the state.
Antiques Roadshow host Mark L. Walberg and appraiser Peter Shemonsky paid a visit Friday to the state Capitol to appraise jewelry being held by Colorado’s Unclaimed Property Division.
The bottom line: A 20-pound silver bar from one of Colorado’s silver mines is probably worth about $4,000. The gold charm bracelet with children’s names from the 1970s—not so much, maybe $150 if someone is willing to rename their kids.
Colorado’s Division of Unclaimed Property, also known as the Great Colorado Payback, currently holds over $450 million in property belonging to more than a million owners.
Under Colorado law, banks have to keep unclaimed property from safe deposit boxes for five years and then turn it over to the state treasurer, who holds it for another five years.
Except for a few exotic items, like the 15 silver bars from the heyday of Colorado mining in the 1800s, the unclaimed property is auctioned off, and the state can use the money until an owner shows up to claim it.
Walberg said about 11 million viewers a week tune in to watch the show, hoping to find out if property they own has significant value.
Walberg said people also want to learn about history, and the Colorado collection has plenty of that. Turns out, though, the gold spoons were really gold-plated and of little value, along with the rusty metal ax with George Washington’s head in silhouette.
The silver bonbon spoons didn’t fare well, either, fetching $25 to $55.
“Nobody eats bonbons anymore,” Shemonsky said.
The big surprise? The aquamarine ring that looked like costume jewelry. it was 20 carats and worth about $1,500.
Kennedy said the television exposure is a good way to get out the word that someone has property waiting for them.
