A Record Year for Iowa’s Treasure Hunt
Iowa’s state treasurer announced that the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program achieved its most successful year to date, returning more than $38 million in cash and tangible items to residents.
Among the items reclaimed were a baseball autographed by the legendary Pete Rose and several of his Cincinnati Reds teammates, as well as a Michael Jordan trading card that has long been coveted by collectors.
The memorabilia were discovered in unclaimed property holdings that have been sitting in state vaults for over three years, a standard waiting period before the items are transferred to the treasury’s inventory.
State Treasurer Roby Smith said the program’s outreach has relied heavily on word‑of‑mouth referrals, helping many Iowans learn about potential finds they might never have otherwise discovered.
Smith noted that individuals who receive a check for their own unclaimed property often go on to search for additional assets for family members, creating a ripple effect of rediscovery.
The search for owners of the specific sports artifacts is being coordinated by the treasurer’s office, which is using its website and public notices to invite claimants to come forward.
Residents can verify whether they hold unclaimed property by visiting the program’s online portal at greatiowatreasurehunt.gov, where they can also submit a claim for items such as the Rose‑signed baseball.
The initiative underscores a broader trend of states leveraging digital tools to reconnect citizens with forgotten assets, a practice that has grown increasingly important in an era of digital record‑keeping.
Looking Ahead
State officials say they will continue to expand the program’s outreach, hoping to break the $40 million mark in the coming year.