Treasure Hunt?

Question

Looking for help with an unusual money question.

First some general info:

I'm creating a treasure hunt and the prize is a large sum of money - 6 figures.

I don't want to hide actual cash because it may be some time before it is discovered, and cash may mold/rot etc. People are still looking for D.B Coopers stolen cash, good luck with that...

To further complicate things I will be the only person knowing the whereabouts of the treasures location, and I may die before it is discovered, so IOU's are not an option.

My question is, how can I positively convey this "treasure" to the finder using a method I am not aware of? Also, I don't want to burden the finder with having to sell valuable items such as gold etc. Most answers would probably be that which is why I am mentioning it.

I have some ideas but don't want to taint others answers.

Maybe a Banker or Financial Advisor could be helpful.

Thanks for any help offered.

Answer

Well, you have pre-rejected all possible answers. Money has no value, a trust is held by people who can not be trusted, and you lack wisdom. I'm sorry, that sounds like an insult but it is a technical fact: you lack wisdom. The answer to your problem is you need to learn a few things. You need to learn that gold is wealth and silver is real money. Everything else is up for barter. An ounce of gold is presently worth 1222 coupons of green paper, but that only depends on how many coupons the Federal Reserve decides to create. Up to 1971 an ounce of gold was worth about 43 coupons. The ounce of gold has not changed its value, the coupons have. 

You can't eat gold. You can't shoot beans. You can't drive bullets. And a car is a lousy store of value. These things are all called commodities. When you need one you need it and no substitutes. You are talking "six figures" -- that means a hundred or so ounces of gold, 6.8 pounds. A man can wave that much with one hand. The second option is almost 600 pounds of silver, and anything else of equal value would be in boxcars or something.

Answer

No commodity possesses an absolute value, nor absolute demand (theoretically).
One approach to the dilemma might opt to rely upon the anticipated time of discovery, but this is highly unpredictable - mayhap the adventurer would require naught but plutonium to power their time travel device? The modern age has expedited the pace of technological innovation & global changes too much to determine with reasonable certainty.
So let's instead leverage the assumptions that you are allowed to make. Namely, you have a treasure hunt - who would be interested in it? What kind of person is likely to solve your riddles? Would they perchance be a historian, deeming an heirloom / artefact of a lost civilisation more valuable than any element in their back yard? A rare set of coins for a collector? A few rare stamps outvalue your offering alone.
Note that any form of information of reasonable length, can be engraved permanently dirt cheap (just make sure it's cryptographically secured & anonymous).

Treasure Hunt?

Answers (2)