A colonial era currency collection, once thought to be lost, was recently returned to an Appleton man.

Before becoming lost, John Hale held his collection about 10 years ago, according to a Wisconsin Department of Revenue news release.

After years had passed, Hale returned to the bank where he left the collection to check the deposit box with it, but said the bank was no longer there.

"I didn't know where it was until I got a call," said Hale, referring to a phone call he received last week from the DOR.

According to Wisconsin state law, property is considered abandoned if unclaimed by the owner for five years after the lease or rental period expires.

Because Hale's box fit the law, it was turned over to the DOR's unclaimed property section, the release said.

After holding onto the box for three years, the DOR was required to place it up for auction.

Upon examining the box, the DOR found a 1976 Appleton newspaper article, which said that Hale's father received the currency from a friend who served in World War II 30 years earlier.

The bills were found in Connecticut in 1937 and had print dates of either 1776 or 1778.

Also inside the box was a Social Security Number, which was used to track down Hale's phone number, according to the release.

The DOR then contacted Hale, who traveled to Madison to get the collection.

To read the complete article, see:
Appleton man reunited with long-lost colonial era currency collection(https://fox11online.com/news/offbeat/appleton-man-reunited-with-long-lost-colonial-era-currency-collection)