THE FOLLOWING IS AN ILLINOIS STATE TREASURER’S OFFICE RELEASE
Surprise Your Valentine Next Month with a One-of-a-Kind Gift from the Online Auction January 23-February 1
Auction catalog available here.
Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Patrick Ewing collectible basketball cards and comics featuring the Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Spawn are just some of the notable items available at the online ICash auction January 23-February 1.
“Valentine’s Day may never be the same,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose office oversees unclaimed property in Illinois. “Whether your valentine collects coins, comics, or cupids, there is truly something unique for everyone.”
Some of the other auction items include:
- Admission tickets, featuring images of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition
- An 1883 Morgan silver dollar with original packaging
- Football cards including Hall of Famers Troy Aikman, John Elway, and Marshall Faulk
- A 1918 Illinois Centennial Lincoln half dollar
- Four silver, turquoise rings
- Baseball cards of various Hall of Famers, including Ryne Sandberg, Greg Maddux, Derek Jeter, and Lou Brock
A total of 150 lots will be auctioned, with some lots consisting of multiple items. You can view all auction items in the catalog on the HiBid website.
Prospective bidders first must sign up on HiBid and create an account. There are a couple of ways to do this. One is to go to hibid.com/ and click on “Create Account” and fill in your information. Another is to go to the catalog, scroll down, and click on “Register to Bid.” For questions, call 217.557.8567.
The State Treasurer’s Office is the custodian of unclaimed property, including lost bank accounts, insurance policy proceeds, unpaid rebate cards, and the contents of safe deposit boxes. Items are surrendered to the Treasurer’s Office after private entities have tried for several years to locate the owner.
Treasurer Frerichs recently started an online unboxing video series highlighting items in the Springfield vault and encouraging people to check the ICash site to see if the office has unclaimed property waiting for them.
The Treasurer’s Office conducts online auctions of unclaimed property periodically throughout the year because it does not have the physical space to store the items indefinitely. The Treasurer’s Office also holds an in-person auction of unclaimed property during the Illinois State Fair in August. The 2025 in-person auction set two new records: for the auction sales total of $374,582 and for the auction sales amount of a single item, a 10-ounce gold bar that sold for $33,500.
Items considered for auction typically have not been touched by their owners for 10 years. All auction proceeds will be held for the rightful owners, no matter how long it takes.
An estimated one-in-four adults in Illinois who search the state’s unclaimed property website, also known as ICash, find missing money that should be returned to them. Visit the ICash website at https://icash.illinoistreasurer.gov/ to find out if any missing money is waiting for you.
About the Treasurer
The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is a powerful economic engine that invests in people to drive prosperity, development and growth throughout the state. As State Treasurer, Michael Frerichs (FRAIR’iks) is the state’s Chief Investment and Banking Officer and actively manages approximately $60 billion. The investments help families pay for college and trade school; workers save for a dignified retirement; and local governments process bill payments more efficiently so they can pass along the savings to taxpayers. The office provides financial institutions with money to loan to farmers, small business owners, and qualified individuals at below-market rates because better jobs create stronger communities. The office operates the state’s largest consumer-protection initiative, the missing money ICash program, which has returned a record-breaking $2.4 billion since Frerichs was elected.
For more news about the State Treasurer’s Office, please sign up for our newsletter and follow Treasurer Frerichs on Instagram at IL Treasurer, Threads @iltreasurer, LinkedIn and on Facebook at Invested in You – Treasurer Michael Frerichs.
