$50K in Rare Coins to Be Hidden Around SF

The gold rush lives on in San Francisco, where $50,000 in rare coins will soon be available for the taking. Local shop Witter Coin is staging a citywide treasure hunt, with 10 rare coins to be hidden in public locations on Saturday. Every hour starting at 7am, the shop will post clues to its Instagram account (@wittercoin). Owner Seth Chandler says the event is a modern nod to the city's gold-seeking roots, with an 1851 California Gold Rush-era coin valued at $25,000 serving as the top prize. "This city was built around the pursuit of gold. We wanted to create something that brings that spirit back," he tells KTVU.

This is the third consecutive year the shop has offered a treasure hunt, and it's been boosting the stakes each year. About $10,000 in rare pieces were given away in 2024, followed by $25,000 in rare coins, plus a gold nugget and a historic five-dollar bill, last year. The timing again lines up with National Coin Week, which concludes Saturday. Chandler expects thousands of people to take part. "I just want people to have a good time," he tells the San Francisco Chronicle, noting that each coin is claimed by the finder. Previous locations have included Fort Point, Fort Mason Center, and the LucasFilm campus.