Watch CBS News

State Of Florida Wants To Give You Back Your Unclaimed Cash

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The State of Florida wants to give you back your unclaimed cash.

More than 80,000 items go on the auction block this weekend in Fort Lauderdale as part of the Unclaimed Property Auction hosted by the state of Florida.

The auction will take place at the Fort Lauderdale Airport Hilton, 1870 Griffin Road.

There's a preview Friday, August 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The actual auction begins Saturday, August 24, from 10:00 a.m. until complete. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.

The Unclaimed Property Auction, which is open to the public, will feature bidding on jewelry, watches, rare coins and more. Featured items include a 1776 continental note, a 5.82 karat diamond ring, an 8.6 karat diamond and gold watch, four American eagle gold bullion coins, a baseball signed by Roberto Clemente and a 59-piece sterling silver flatware set.

Most of the items come from abandoned safe deposit boxes, but the treasures also include unclaimed wages, bank accounts, stocks and bonds.

The first of the two 2013 unclaimed property auctions was held in June. That auction, held in Tampa, was the second-highest-grossing auction in the 52-year history of Florida's unclaimed property program. It raised $1.16 million for Florida's public schools.

Unclaimed money and earnings from auctions fund public education, however, people have the right to claim their property or the cash it brings at an auction, at any time at no cost.

The state of Florida returned a record $212 million in unclaimed cash and property last year after companies couldn't find the owners.

Banks and the state try to contact the owners of unclaimed property for five years before it's auctioned.

Florida currently holds $1 billion in unclaimed cash and valuables.

If you'd like to find out if the state owes you anything, check out www.FLTreasureHunt.org or call 1-850-413-3089 to see if you have unclaimed property.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.