Philadelphia is buzzing this week as treasure hunters spread across the city in search of hidden certificates that can be exchanged for rare coins, historic currency, bullion or cash. The event is part of Treasure Hunt 2026, a multi‑city promotion organized by Stack’s Bowers Galleries and the local group FindTheCashPHL.
How the hunt works
Each day at 5:30 p.m., a new clue appears on the Stack’s Bowers Philadelphia Instagram page. Participants decode the clue, head to the indicated location and look for a sealed certificate. The first certificate was found within minutes of the opening‑day clue being released.
Certificates can be redeemed at the Stack’s Bowers Galleries showroom on Market Street in Center City. Winners may keep the numismatic prize, add it to an existing collection, start a new collection, or exchange it for cash.
Prizes and participation
Across the four host cities—Philadelphia, Miami, San Francisco and Boston—the promotion will award $10,000 worth of collectibles. Individual prizes range from about $300 to a grand prize valued at roughly $3,500. Organizers say Philadelphia has generated the strongest participation of the four locations.
“We have come to find out that a lot of really great early coinage has been passed down through the generations through Philadelphia families,” said Mark Schimel of Stack’s Bowers, noting the city’s historic link to U.S. coinage as the home of the first U.S. Mint.
Local collectors join the fun
Leonard Johnson, a South Philadelphia resident, said his lifelong love of coins drew him to the hunt. “I’m just really interested in coins. I love coins. I have a whole collection at home,” he told reporters.
Mike Delporte of Fishtown, who has been collecting coins since childhood, plans to keep searching. “I’ll definitely be looking for it tomorrow. As soon as it dropped, I hopped on the train and booked my way over here as quick as I could,” he said.
What the event offers the community
Organizers describe the scavenger hunt as both entertaining and educational, aiming to spark interest in rare‑coin collecting and investing among Philadelphians of all ages. By tying daily social‑media clues to historic Philadelphia sites, the hunt also highlights the city’s rich numismatic heritage.
The Philadelphia portion of the hunt runs through Saturday, giving participants several days to locate certificates and claim their prizes.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
