A CRYPTO investor has sparked a $2,000,000 treasure hunt after burying FIVE treasure chests.
California-based musician-turned-entrepreneur-turned-author, Jon Collins-Back, has challenged treasure hunters and puzzle seekers to search for the chests using a series of clues.
The clues for the “greatest treasure hunt in America’s history” is laid out in Collins-Black’s book, “There’s a Treasure Inside”.
The clues have been designed to be as difficult as possible so that only the sharpest of treasurehunters can solve it.
The cleverly hidden puzzle boxes are also hard to crack, and can only be opened with a set of instructions provided by the crypto tycoon, with Collins-Black urging finders not to force them open.
According to Collins-Black, no one else knows of the treasure chest’s location, telling Business Insider that it was pointless to question his friends and family.
Hidden in the five treasure chests, are a Casascius bitcoin (the first physical bitcoin ever made), a green Colombian emerald, a 2002 Shining Charizard Pokémon card, antiques from a shipwreck, and George Washington’s jelly glass.
Speaking to Business Insider, Collins-Black said he spent the last five years planning the epic treasure hunt, acquiring a collection of valuable items.
He said: “I was actually trying to figure out what the sweet spot would be as far as how big to make this without making it too big, I didn’t want people to go too crazy.
He added that the value of the treasure was estimated at between $2 million and $3 million, saying: “If Bitcoin goes to $500,000 or $1 million or these treasures are worth $10 million in five to seven years and someone finds them, then I think I’ll just celebrate that and be happy for it.”
Collins-Black also plans to reveal more clues if the treasure isn’t discovered.
He said: “I don’t have this desire for me to be long gone and there to be the legend of the Jon Collins-Black treasures.
“I don’t want to drag it on forever.”
None of the chests are on private property, so anyone can find them, although Collins-Black points out that you need to follow a series of clues to determine the location.
The new treasure hunt will fill the void after the mysterious Golden Owl treasure hunt ends.
Made entirely of gold and silver, with diamonds on the head, the hunt for the Golden Owl ended after 31 years.
Tens of thousands of people had joined the hunt since a series of puzzles and clues were published in “On The Trail Of The Golden Owl”, the BBC reports.
The armchair treasure-hunt book was created in 1993 by communications expert Régis Hauser under the pseudonym “Max Valentin” and illustrated by artist Michel Becker.
Under Max Valentin, Hauser buried a bronze statue of an owl in a secret location in France, with a series of 11 clues published in a book to help treasure hunters find the prize.
These clues were often short riddles or plays on words.
The identity of the winner or the location where the Golden Owl was stashed has yet to be announced.
Treasure hunters were in a joyous uproar after the news of the discovery came out on the hunt’s Discord forum.
One person said: “Finally – liberated!”
Another added: “I didn’t think I’d live to see the day.
“It’s like Covid. So good when it’s over.”
A third added: “Curiously, I’m relieved.
“I’m desperate to know the solutions now to see if I was on the right path.”
