🖊️ 11—Auction Legends
TREASURES
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█ A-Z // Fortunes Found 🔗 - [ i ]
Auctions, 11 Finds, $500 Million+
Hidden Treasures in Everyday Places
This list serves as a compact archive of modern auction find treasure history — a quick reference for journalists, researchers, and enthusiasts. It highlights how high-value items continue to surface in ordinary places.
A few legendary examples from the list below include:
- $1 Million for rare music recordings
- $4 Million for a basketball jersey
- $30 Million for a rare antique artwork
Overlooked for years, these surprising discoveries reveal how valuable treasures can be — even when hiding in plain sight.
Explore the full list below the ad ☟
Related: Treasure Lists across all categories 🔗
11—Legendary Finds:
1. Da Vinci Discovery—$450 Million for Painting Found at Estate Auction
📽️ 📅 2017 Report: In the USA, a once-overlooked painting—Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci—was rediscovered after being purchased at a U.S. estate auction for reportedly under $10,000. Later authenticated, the rare artwork sold for a record-breaking $450 million. Believed to be the last da Vinci in private hands, the painting is considered priceless. Full story in a three-minute video.
█ Video: 🔗 ABC News / YouTube
2. Fabergé Find—$30 Million for $14K Gold Egg Discovered at Junk Auction
📽️ 📅 2014 Report: A scrap dealer in the United States inadvertently became a millionaire after discovering a lost Fabergé egg at a junk auction in the Midwest. Purchased for $14,000, this treasure—crafted for the Russian royal family in 1887 and lost after the revolution—resurfaced decades later, adorned with diamonds and sapphires. Its rarity and historical significance led to a reported sale price of around $30 million. Full story in a one-minute video.
█ Video: 🔗 Bloomberg / Youtube
3. Map Marvel—$7.5 Million for 14th-Century Chart Bought at Estate Auction
📰 📽️ 📅 2023 Report: In the USA, a 14th-century portolan chart was purchased at auction during a virtual estate sale for $239,000. Misdated as 16th century, it was later verified as circa 1360. Originally bought in 1993 for about $85,000, the chart is now listed at $7.5 million. It's the only complete 14th-century example known outside Europe.█ Story, video, and images: 🔗 Los Angeles Times
4. Revolution Relic—$6 Million Estimated for $1,000 Auction Buy of U.S. Placecard
📰 📅 2024 Report: In the USA, a rare 18th-century Stamp Act Defiance Placard, pivotal in the American revolt against Britain, was unearthed. Valued at $4-$6 million, it's one of just two known specimens. Originally sold at a Boston auction in 1980 for less than $1,000, its rarity and historic significance render it priceless.
█ Story and image: 🔗 Observer
▌Related: Tools • Lists • Book & Script
5. Jordan Gem—$4.2 Million for Rookie Jersey Bought for $800
📰 📽️ 📅 2025 Report: In Peoria, Illinois, USA, Michael Jordan's first Chicago Bulls jersey, worn during his 1984 preseason debut, sold for $4.2 million. Originally purchased for $800 at a Washington Bullets charity auction, it is the only photo-matched rookie-season jersey known to exist. The rare jersey resurfaced in 2009, selling again before achieving its record sum.
█ Story, video, and images: 🔗 cllct
▌Related: Tools • Lists • Sports
6. Comic Cache—$3.2 Million for Rare Superman Issue Discovered in Auctioned Magazine Stack
📽️ 📅 2021 Report: In the United States, a rare 1938 Superman comic—originally priced at 10 cents—was discovered buried in a stack of old movie magazines purchased at an auction in the 1980s, remaining unnoticed for 50 years. This comic's unparalleled rarity and value led to its record-breaking sale for $3.2 million. Full story in a short video clip.
█ Video: 🔗 CBS New York / YouTube
▌Related: Tools • Lists • Comic
7. Journal Gem—$2.2 Million for $14K Antique Medical Book Bought at Auction
📰 📅 2024 Report: In Canada, a retired doctor discovered a rare 1555 Renaissance anatomy book by Andreas Vesalius, initially purchased at auction for $14,000. Following further research, the book was auctioned for $2.2 million due to its unparalleled historical and scientific value, marking it as a priceless find.
█ Story and images: 🔗 artnet
▌Related: Tools • Lists • Book & Script
8. Renoir Revelation—Millions for $12 Sketch Bought in Easton Antique Auction
📰 📽️ 📅 2025 Report: In Easton, Pennsylvania, USA, an antique shop owner bought a nude sketch at auction for $12 and believes it may be an original Renoir from the 1880s. If authenticated, the artwork—previously owned by a prominent Philadelphia collector—could be worth millions. The piece aligns in paper, frame, and signature with known works by Renoir.
█ Story, images, and video: 🔗 Fox 29 Philadelphia
9. Moon Memorabilia—$1.8 Million for $1,000 Auction Lot Purchase
📽️ 📅 2017 Report: In the US, a moon bag containing traces of lunar dust collected by Neil Armstrong was discovered and later confirmed to be genuine—highlighting its rarity and historical importance. Originally purchased for under $1,000 in an online government auction, it eventually sold for $1.8 million at auction. Full story in a short video clip.
█ Video: 🔗 CBS Evening News / YouTube
▌Related: Tools • Lists • Collectible
10. Moon Walk Tapes—$1.8 Million for $217 Auction Lot with Historic Film Footage
📰 📽️ 📅 2019 Report: In the US, original NASA Apollo 11 moonwalk tapes were discovered in a surplus auction lot, purchased for $217. These tapes, later sold for $1.8 million, hold unmatched rarity and historical value, having been unintentionally preserved.
█ Story, video, and images: 🔗 UPI
▌Related: Tools • Lists • Collectible
11. Jackson Gold—Million Dollar Tapes Found in California Storage Unit
📰 📅 2024 Report: A father in California, USA, discovered unreleased Michael Jackson recordings while sorting through an abandoned storage unit once owned by producer Bryan Loren. The tapes feature 12 tracks from 1989-1991, including rare collaborations and Jackson discussing his music. The estimated value is in the seven-digit range.
█ Story and images: 🔗 The Hollywood Reporter
▌Related: Tools • Lists • Music
These inspiring discoveries reveal the untapped potential of everyday spaces as hidden treasure troves. Explore the top 40 finds below the ad ☟
█ A-Z // Top 40 Topics - [ i ]
Stuff & Spots: 120 Legends
- Antique
- Art
- Attic
- Auction
- Barn Find
- Basement
- Bizarre
- Book & Script
- Box & Trunk
- Camera & Photo
- Car & Motorcycle
- Closet & Cabinet
- Clothing & Fashion
- Coin & Banknote
- Collectible
- Comic
- Doll & Bear
- Drawer & Dresser
- Dumpster & Trash
- Electronic & Tech
- Estate Sale
- Flea Market
- Hidden in Plain Sight
- Jewelry, Gem, Watch
- Metal Detecting
- Music, Vinyl, Memorabilia
- Musical Instrument
- Online
- Pottery, Glass, Ceramic
- Random
- Shed & Garage
- Shelf & Mantel
- Shipwreck
- Showbiz
- Sports
- Storage Locker
- Thrifting
- Toy
- Video Game
- Yard Sale