San Francisco coin collector launches $10,000 scavenger hunt to find rare dollars and pennies

A coin collector in San Francisco is hiding $10,000 worth of rare coins around town for people to uncover.

Seth Chandler set up the scavenger hunt, which began on Friday, to get more people interested in collecting coins and to educate them. 

He owns Witter Coin in the Marina District and is giving away five gold, five silver and one copper coin which each range from $250 to $2,500 in value. 

'I thought of the idea to place 11 different coins, all made in San Francisco, in 11 different neighborhoods,' he told KTVU. 

Chandler expected they would be found within a few hours but by Friday evening, only six of the 11 were picked up.

A coin collector in San Francisco is hiding $10,000 worth of rare coins around town for people to uncover

Seth Chandler set up the scavenger hunt, which began on Friday, to get more people interested in collecting coins and to educate them

He owns Witter Coin in the Marina District and is giving away five gold, five silver and one copper coin which each range from $250 to $2,500 in value

Chandler has posted clues on the store's Instagram page about where the items are hidden.

The most valuable are a $20 gold coin from 1915 and a penny made in 1909.

'I love coins. I've been collecting coins since I was four-years-old,' he said. 

'When you hold a round piece of metal when it's two or three hundred years old, you think about our founding fathers. 

'You think about the country the coin was made in. You can really connect with history.'

He added: 'San Francisco is the king of coin cities, the only city in the country with three mints.'

Chandler has posted clues on the store's Instagram page about where the items are hidden

The coins that Chandler and his team have hidden are each in plastic bags and come with cards that provide information as to how to contact his store

Chandler expected they would be found within a few hours but by Friday evening only six of the 11 were picked up

There is still a US Mint which is operating in San Francisco's Upper Market neighborhood.

Don Kagin, an avid coin collector and historian, said: 'There is no artifact that even comes close to our coins to tell a story of a civilization.

'It tells so much about who we are and what we are and our US Mint has done a good job.'

The coins that Chandler and his team have hidden are each in plastic bags and come with cards that provide information as to how to contact his store. 

'We're encouraging people to bring it back here to our shop on Lombard Street just so we can meet them, see how excited they are,' he said. 

'But most importantly, educate them about the coin they found.'