Pieces of unclaimed property, found in abandoned safe-deposit boxes, are spread over a table in the state treasurer’s office, ready for the crew of “Antiques Roadshow,” the PBS television series, to get to work, examining such things as bonbon spoons, silver ingots and a perfume bottle from the 1880s.
“Once, I found a loaded pistol in a safe-deposit box,” said Peter Shemonsky, a jewelry expert from San Francisco.
“We had that too!” said Colorado Treasurer Cary Kennedy.
Kennedy is hosting the first visit of “Antiques Roadshow” to a state unclaimed-property division. The TV show, which provides free appraisal services to ordinary folks, is shooting episodes in Denver today that will air next year.
“Antiques Roadshow” was lured to the unclaimed-property vault by someone in Kennedy’s office who called a producer and suggested that a segment on the state’s lost and found might be a good way to let the show’s 10 million viewers know that they, too, might have unclaimed property ready to be returned.
Colorado’s Division of Unclaimed Property, also known as the Great Colorado Payback, currently holds more than $450 million in property belonging to over 1 million owners. Last year, Colorado returned more than $22 million in lost and forgotten property and money.
“Our program is 20 years old, and in other states, it’s 50 years old,” Kennedy said. “We’re still trying to educate folks about it.”
When items — including bank accounts and safe-deposit boxes — are abandoned and then remain unclaimed for five years, they are auctioned on eBay.
“But things that look sacred — the high-value family heirlooms — we hold longer,” Kennedy said.
“Antiques Roadshow” host Mark Walberg browsed the artifacts, lingering over an iron hatchet decorated with an image of George Washington and a ’70s charm bracelet that reminded him of one his mother once owned.
There were two silver bars found in a box in Colorado Springs, a strand of pearls and some gold-plated utensils.
Some of the highest-value items included a yellow-gold necklace set with amethysts and garnets from the mid-1800s, worth about $4,000, and a diamond ring that could be worth $80,000.
“My hope,” Walberg said, “is that this show will be entertaining but also that someone will say, ‘Hey, that’s my grandmother’s spoon!’ ”
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
Stake your claim
The Great Colorado Payback has operated for 20 years and may have some of your money or property stashed in the unclaimed-property vault. To find out, visit or call the state treasurer’s office at 303-866-6070. You can also check .
