# Lost treasure or historical item you most want?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 22, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328 "2016-12-22T00:05:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/21 "2016-12-22T20:59:44Z")
The first “[Flowing Hair Dollar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowing_Hair_dollar)” coin minted by the US in 1794, in mint condition.
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### Author:  [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/22 "2016-12-22T21:08:44Z")
It’s a toss up between the Ark of the Covenant and the Amber Room. Maybe the Ark of the Covenant inside the Amber Room?
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### Author:  [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/23 "2016-12-22T21:22:13Z")
> [@cmkeller](#):
>
> The Ark of the Covenant, with tablets inside.
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#):
>
> It’s a toss up between the Ark of the Covenant and the Amber Room. Maybe the Ark of the Covenant inside the Amber Room?
But remember, you can’t actually TOUCH the Ark, or you die. (Unless you’re a Levite.)
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### Author:  [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/24 "2016-12-22T21:38:37Z")
> [@Flyer](#):
>
> But remember, you can’t actually TOUCH the Ark, or you die. (Unless you’re a Levite.)
Not true, I saw in that documentary called “Raiders of the Lost Ark” that you can touch it, but not open it and certainly not look inside.
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### Author:  [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/25 "2016-12-23T20:06:34Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> I’d also sort of like to be able to recover King John’s lost treasure, but I am not sure I believe it was really lost in the way reported.
Wot, no “lost in the wash” joke? 🙂
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### Author:  [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/26 "2016-12-23T22:49:02Z")
Aaron’s rod?
The Spear of Longinus?
Hell, I’d love to uncover one of the weapons stashes the Soviets allegedly stored in several locations in the United States. One of them was allegedly in northern MN. Of course, I’d love more to not be killed by the booby traps.
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### Author:  [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/27 "2016-12-23T23:31:05Z")
The bill from the Last Supper.
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### Author:  [@Donpeyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donpeyote)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/28 "2016-12-23T23:37:46Z")
James Dean’s “Li’l Bastard” Porsche
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### Author:  [@weef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/weef)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/29 "2016-12-24T01:58:23Z")
Unopened case of Topps 1952 baseball cards, possibly containing Mickey Mantle’s rookie card.
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### Author:  [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2016, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/30 "2016-12-24T05:52:03Z")
The lost photographic plates from the Shackleton Expedition.
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### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/31 "2016-12-24T14:48:16Z")
Hirohito’s cup - this is the one he took a drink from prior to formally surrendering, it was the last item that he touched as a divinity, after the surrender he became a mere mortal - that cup is missing
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### Author:  [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/32 "2016-12-24T15:01:51Z")
The sword of Attila the Hun.
The casket (and mummy) of Alexander the Great.
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### Author:  [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/33 "2016-12-24T15:36:10Z")
A minty fresh 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS with a 396 engine. Fire engine red would be a bonus.
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### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/34 "2016-12-24T16:44:55Z")
The Griffin. No great treasure but I’m totally nuts about the history of the French in North America.
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### Author:  [@Donpeyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donpeyote)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/35 "2016-12-24T16:47:59Z")
A Carlos Hathcock "In Country " Sniper Rifle .
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### Author:  [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/36 "2016-12-24T17:50:19Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#):
>
> The first “[Flowing Hair Dollar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowing_Hair_dollar)” coin minted by the US in 1794, in mint condition.
Good one. I don’t know if it really counts as a historical item but I want one of the Strawberry Leaf variety Wreath Cents. This particular variety has fascinated me for some reason. Only 4 known to exist, all severely worn.
> **[Wreath cent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreath_cent)**
>
> The Wreath cent was an American large cent. It was the second design type, following the Chain cent in 1793. It was produced only during that year.
> The obverse design consisted of a stylized Liberty head with flowing hair. The inscription "LIBERTY" appeared above the portrait. Below it was a three-leaved sprig and the date. The design of the Liberty head was modified somewhat from that of the Chain cent to address public criticism.\[citation needed\]
> The reverse's central design figure, for which...
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### Author:  [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2016, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/37 "2016-12-25T04:55:05Z")
Wright brothers first plane they flew.
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### Author:  [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2016, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/38 "2016-12-25T05:34:49Z")
Lincoln’s “lost speech”:
> **[Lincoln's Lost Speech](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln's_Lost_Speech)**
>
> Lincoln's "Lost Speech" was a speech given by Abraham Lincoln at the Bloomington Convention on May 29, 1856, in Bloomington, Illinois. Traditionally regarded as lost because it was so engaging that reporters neglected to take notes, the speech is believed to have been an impassioned condemnation of slavery.
> Lincoln's Lost Speech was given at the since demolished building at the corner of East and Front Streets in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, known as Major's Hall on May 29, 1856. Lincoln gav...
Legend says it was so moving, reporters in attendance laid down their pencils and forgot to take notes. People who heard the speech have asserted it was Lincoln’s greatest, but were unable to give details. Some think it was deliberately suppressed out of fear it would sunder the Union and lead to civil war.
It catapulted Lincoln into political prominence, so in a sense it did. I’d much rather have that speech – the best of his life, from an acknowledged master of American English – than a coin or a gem.
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2016, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/39 "2016-12-25T05:59:46Z")
Since the Ark and the tablets are taken as it where, I’ll make do with my family’s own collection of military or quasimilitary commendations. One of my great-grandparents on the maternal side was a Guardia Civil, it’s a police body with military structure and which follows military regs; the paternal side spent a milennium going to war any time king and country called for it.
Those on my paternal side went to cousins which are distant both in the family tree and in space; those on the maternal side were never collected to begin with.
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### Author:  [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2016, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-treasure-or-historical-item-you-most-want/775328/40 "2016-12-25T07:26:09Z")
I’d be interested in seeing [Ismail al-Jazari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismail_al-Jazari)’s robot band.
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