Treasure hunters and bargain seekers will have an opportunity to bid on unique items from Oregon's Unclaimed Property Program when Oregon State Treasury hosts a timed online auction beginning at 4 p.m. PST on November 27, 2026.
From coins and jewelry to baseball cards and pocket watches, the auction will feature contents from more than 400 abandoned safe deposit boxes. Capitol Auction & Estate Services in Salem will conduct the auction online, allowing bidders to participate from anywhere. People can create a free account, view auction items and place bids on the auction website starting today. Treasury last held a safe deposit box auction in 2022.
“Black Friday is known for great finds, and this auction offers Oregonians a chance to discover one-of-a-kind items while also raising awareness about Oregon's Unclaimed Property Program,” said Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, MD. “With more than $1 billion available to claim, a quick search could help you recover money or property that belongs to you or your family.”
When Treasury sells an item at auction, the sale proceeds stay with the abandoned safe deposit box owner's account. Owners or their heirs can claim those funds at any time, just like any other unclaimed property. Treasury holds the funds in trust forever until the owner claims them.
The items in this auction came to Treasury through Oregon's unclaimed property reporting process. Institutions turn over safe deposit boxes after owners stop paying rental fees and fail to respond to notices for an extended period, typically four to five years.
Treasury receives hundreds of abandoned safe deposit boxes each year and holds them for an additional two years before opening them. During that time, Treasury works to locate owners, so they can claim their property before it goes to auction. Treasury never auctions military medals or other insignia. Instead, Treasury lists those items on its website so owners can find and reclaim them.
Oregon's Unclaimed Property Program has returned more than $750 million to owners over the last 20 years. Even so, Treasury still holds more than $1 billion in unclaimed property that Oregonians and their heirs can claim. Nearly one in seven people in the United States has unclaimed property. Treasury encourages people to search for lost assets at Unclaimed.Oregon.gov, where checking for and claiming property is always free. Unclaimed property never expires, so owners and their heirs can claim funds at any time.
Outreach Coordinator
Oregon State Treasury - Trust Property
503-378-4155
https://unclaimed.oregon.gov
