Only 2 days left in state's auction of valuable Michael Jordan rookie card
Collectors still have a few days to bid on one of the most sought-after basketball cards of all time.
In an effort to clear space in its unclaimed property vault, Iowa Treasurer Roby Smith's office put the contents of dozens of unclaimed safe deposit boxes up for auction earlier this year.
One lot of coins, cash and sports cards included a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card — one of the most valuable cards in the industry.
When they were made aware of the potential value of the card, the treasurer's office pulled it from the lot and ordered an appraisal by a Professional Sports Authenticator.
The Jordan card came back as authentic with a grade of 7, considered "near mint" on PSA's scale of 1 (poor) to 10 (gem mint). It was put back up for auction Sept. 5 at and, as of noon Monday, had 16 bids. The auction, which now sits at $4,950, closes at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Video above: Michael Jordan rookie card authenticated
According to PSA, have been auctioned on since Aug. 15, with an average sale price of $4,900.
Smith said his office goes to great lengths to find the rightful owners of abandoned property before any auction through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt.
"While it is heartbreaking to have to auction the cherished contents of these safe deposit boxes, we have tried for years to reunite them with their rightful owner without any success, and we just don’t have the space to continue to hold on to them," he said in the release. "The items in this sale are some that have been held for over 10 years."
“We send out mailings, publish names in newspapers, stay active on social media and participate in events like the Iowa State Fair to encourage people to search their name. Through these efforts, we find thousands of people each year. If an owner comes forward before the auction, we will return the item rather than sell it," the release said.
Proceeds from the auction go back into the office's budget for the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, which to date has helped return more than $340 million in unclaimed property.