collectible coin
Unclaimed property in State Auditor's vault
LITTLE ROCK, Ark (KTHV) -- The Auditor of State Charlie Daniels has announced unclaimed property in Arkansas will soon be on eBay if not claimed soon.
According the State Auditor's office, more than 20 years of abandoned safe deposit items are being held in the property vault and it's time to "clean house. And what they get rid of, COULD be worth something to you!
Daniels says, "Our eBay program will give these abandoned valuables a new home instead of keeping them locked away in a vault."
The first auction will begin Friday, January 27.
Spokesperson Jordan Foster says, "The Auditor of State is authorized to auction off these items. But in the past, auditors have been reluctant to because the cost associated with having a public auction!"
Foster says coins, jewelry, stamps and other small collectibles have been locked up for too long and the decision to sell them online will give the world a chance to buy them.
New items will be added every last Friday of the month and the organizers will begin auctions with the items they've had the longest. Foster says, "These are items that we've been trying to get in contact with the owners for several years. A very lengthy amount of time and it's most likely not going to be claimed."
$170 million dollars worth sits, waiting, unclaimed. But certain sentimental things won't be up for bid.
Foster says, "Some of the things that are NOT going to be going on the auction are personal things. Photos, letters, any military medals."
Also, things such as mineral rights, stocks and cold hard cash will not be auctioned.
Many items have increased in value over the years and will be sold for the current day value.
Arkansas law requires the profit of the sold items be held in trust funds for the rightful owners to claim.
The page to search on eBay is "ar.unclaimedproperty" which is also linked to the Auditor's office website along with information about who has unclaimed property.
Auditor Charlie Daniels and his employees and immediate families are not eligible to bid on the items.