PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Treasure hunters are spreading out across Philadelphia this week in search of hidden certificates that can be redeemed for rare coins, historic currency, and other collectibles as part of a nationwide scavenger hunt.<\/p>\n
The event, organized by Stack’s Bowers Galleries and FindTheCashPHL, is one stop in Treasure Hunt 2026, a multi-city promotion offering prizes tied to daily clues posted on social media. Participants in Philadelphia have the chance to locate hidden certificates and redeem them for numismatic prizes or cash.<\/p>\n
Leonard Johnson of South Philadelphia said he was drawn to the event because of his interest in collecting.<\/p>\n
“I’m just really interested in coins. I love coins. I have a whole collection at home,” said Johnson.<\/p>\n
According to organizers, winners can exchange their certificates for a variety of prizes.<\/p>\n
“They can redeem it for a numismatic prize, which could be coins, currency, bullion, and they have the choice to keep it, or they can add it to an existing collection, start a new collection, or we’ll exchange it for cash,” said Kerry Loughran of Stack’s Bowers Galleries.<\/p>\n
Organizers said the event is intended to be both entertaining and educational, while encouraging interest in rare coin collecting and investing.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia was selected in part because of its connection to U.S. coinage history as the home of the first U.S. Mint.<\/p>\n
“We have come to find out that a lot of really great early coinage has been passed down through the generations through Philadelphia families,” Mark Schimel of Stack’s Bowers said.<\/p>\n