Rogers Park Treasure Hunt Continues as Coin Collector Hides Rare 1800s Currency for Neighbors

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Rogers Park · February 1, 2026

Rogers Park residents are participating in an exciting neighborhood treasure hunt as local coin collector Jon Martin continues his mission to distribute rare 19th-century coins throughout the community. Martin, a 38-year-old numismatist with "boxes and boxes" of coins amassed over his lifetime, has been strategically hiding valuable copper and silver coins from the early 1800s around the neighborhood for lucky residents to discover.

The scavenger hunt has become a community sensation, with Martin posting cryptic clues on the Nextdoor app that contain subtle hints about each coin's location that typically only locals can identify. So far, several of these historical treasures have been found by community members, including an 1830 Coronet Head Large Cent, an 1806 Draped Bust Large Cent, and the rarest piece—an 1800 Draped Bust Half Cent. The hunt has attracted a surprisingly diverse group of participants, including college students, parents, and local business owners.

The remaining coins to be discovered date between 1800 and 1835, with fewer than 10,000 of each still existing worldwide. Martin hopes the treasure hunt will serve an educational purpose and spark interest in historic coins that are gradually disappearing due to corrosion. "If I could do anything," Martin explained, "the hope would be to get younger people to appreciate an era of coinage that most people don't even know about at all." Rogers Park residents interested in joining the hunt can follow Martin's clues on the Nextdoor app and explore the neighborhood with fresh eyes—perhaps discovering both a rare historical artifact and a new passion for numismatics.

Sources:
1. https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/08/29/a-real-life-treasure-hunt-unfolds-on-the-north-side-as-collector-drops-coins-clues-around-rogers-park
2. https://news.wttw.com/2025/11/13/chicago-coin-collector-planned-treasure-hunts-share-his-collection-things-changed-when