Illinois to hold auction of unclaimed property

The Illinois treasurer's office is organizing an online auction of unclaimed property that will include jewelry, gold and uncirculated Civil War-era bank notes.

Treasurer Dan Rutherford announced the auction Wednesday. He says there are 492 pieces of unclaimed property in the auction. The auction items come from safe deposit boxes. The owners haven't come forward to claim the items in more than five years.

The auction starts at 10 a.m. on Monday and will begin closing at 10 a.m. on Nov. 21. People can view the items ahead of time at the treasurer's website at www.treasurer.il.gov. Click on the auction preview button.

Anyone who wants to participate in the auction must register as a bidder. Sale prices must reach at least 75 percent of the appraised value.