"America's Lost Treasure" TV Show Offers Cash Prizes

Joining the ever widening ranks of television shows centered on the idea that a family heirloom may in fact be of profound historical significance, not to mention be worth a bundle, is National Geographic’s “America’s Lost Treasure.“

The ten-episode series is a sort of hybrid of the PBS classic, “Antiques Roadshow,” and the Keno brothers’ “Buried Treasure.”  Like the Roadshow, it travels from city to city; the show just finished filming in Kansas City and is still to visit Philadelphia, PA, Winterthur, DE and Detroit, MI.

Episodes are set to start airing on the National Geographic Channel come April.

Unlike the “Antiques Roadshow,” “America’s Lost Treasure” takes place at a top museum in the city in which they are visiting.

Each episode focuses on only five to six items, providing a detailed account of the objects, and the viewer is brought along for the whole investigation.

Also, in a twist that neither of the other two shows has, an overall winner will be announced, based on the object that is declared that episode’s “lost treasure.” 

The winner will receive a $10,000 prize, in addition to receiving the glad tidings regarding the worthiness of their object.  The winning items will also make the rounds as part of a traveling exhibit put together by National Geographic. 

Read more about bringing your "lost treasure" to the show.

(Report: Christine Bolli for ARTFIXdaily)