New Jersey might be known for its beaches, boardwalks, and bustling cities, but did you know it’s also home to some amazing lost treasures? Hidden across the state, there are stories of fortunes waiting to be discovered, some worth millions of dollars.
Learning about these treasures is half the fun. From pirate loot to long-forgotten relics, New Jersey is filled with mystery. You might even feel like a local hero if you’re the one to find it.
The state’s rich history and diverse landscape make it a prime location for treasure hunters of all kinds. So grab your gear and get ready—New Jersey’s treasures are waiting, and they just might be closer than you think.
The Incredible Treasures Of New Jersey That Are Waiting To Be Discovered
These treasures are among the most captivating and valuable yet to be unearthed:
Blackbeard’s Treasure – $10,000,000+
Blackbeard’s Treasure is one of the most enduring legends along the New Jersey coast.
Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious pirate who roamed the Atlantic in the early 1700s. He was known for attacking ships and amassing large amounts of gold, silver, and jewels.
In 1717, Blackbeard sailed up the Delaware River to Burlington City, hiding stolen treasure near the shore before escaping to sea. According to legend, he trusted four witches to protect the treasure with magic, ensuring it stayed hidden forever.
How much the treasure would be worth today
Experts estimate that Blackbeard’s treasure could be worth around $10 million or more.
The Cape May Shipwreck Treasure – $15,000,000+
The Cape May Shipwreck Treasure is tied to the sinking of a Spanish galleon off the coast of Cape May in the 1700s. The ship, laden with gold and silver from the Americas, was caught in a fierce storm as it traveled north.
Unable to escape the rough seas, it sank near the New Jersey shoreline, taking its riches to the ocean floor.
Spanish galleons often carried immense wealth, and this ship was no exception. The treasure includes gold coins, silver ingots, and other valuable cargo intended for European markets.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The Cape May Shipwreck Treasure could be worth an estimated $15 million or more.
The Fame’s Gold and Silver – $10 million+
In 1781, a ship called The Fame sank off the coast of New Jersey, carrying gold and silver coins. Over the years, hundreds of Spanish reales and gold doubloons have been found on Strathmere Beach, especially after dredging operations moved sand from Corson Inlet.
Some treasure hunters believe there could still be many more coins buried in the area, waiting to be discovered. Local authorities started screening the sand to catch any treasure, but coins still turn up from time to time.
There’s a chance that many more of these coins are still hidden beneath the sand.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The estimated value of these coins, if they were all found, could be around $10 million or even more.
The Lost Treasure of the Pirate Captain Kidd – $12,000,000+
The Lost Treasure of Captain William Kidd remains one of New Jersey’s most famous pirate legends. Kidd, a notorious privateer-turned-pirate, sailed along the Atlantic coast in the late 1600s.
Gold coins, silver bars, jewels, and other riches are part of the treasure taken from his raids on merchant ships. Kidd is said to have accumulated significant wealth during his time at sea, and burying some of it may have been his way of protecting it from confiscation.
The treasure is thought to have been buried in the late 1690s along the Rahway River, just before Kidd was captured and sent to England for trial. His execution in 1701 ensured that the secret of his fortune was never revealed.
How much the treasure would be worth today
Experts estimate the treasure of Captain Kidd could be worth $12 million or more.
Captain Kidd’s Money Island Treasure – $2,600,000+
Captain Kidd is said to have buried treasure on Money Island, a small landmass that once sat off the coast of New Jersey near Cliffwood Beach. This area became famous after Spanish gold coins from the 1600s were found there, supporting stories of hidden pirate loot.
Inland, near a body of water now called Treasure Lake, additional gold coins were uncovered, adding to the legend. The island itself disappeared over time due to erosion and excavation, but it was once a key location linked to Kidd’s fortune.
Local lore also mentions that Kidd used two massive elm trees, known as Kidd’s Rangers, as markers to find his buried gold.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The treasure that Captain Kidd was said to have buried here could possibly have an estimated value of $2.6 million.
Brigantine Inlet’s Treasure Chest – $5,000,000
Captain Kidd was nothing if not prolific. He is said to have buried treasure near Brigantine Inlet, a key stop along the New Jersey coast during his final voyage.
The story claims that he and his first mate, Timothy Jones, landed in a longboat carrying a heavy leather and brass-bound sea chest.
After burying the chest among the dunes, Kidd later returned, dug it up, and reburied it in a different location. A fight broke out between Kidd and Jones over the treasure, ending with Kidd killing his first mate and burying him beside the chest.
How much the treasure would be worth today
This hidden fortune could be worth up to $5 million.
The Fagan Gang’s Buried Loot – $20,000,000+
Jacob Fagan and his gang of outlaws terrorized the Pine Barrens in the 1770s, stealing tens of thousands of dollars in gold, silver, and valuables.
They had secret hideouts, including hand-dug tunnels near Farmingdale, where they stored their stolen fortune.
When the gang was captured, most refused to talk, but Lewis Fenton tried to trade his life for the hidden loot. He claimed the gang had massive amounts of treasure stashed away. However, before he could reveal the location, he was shot while trying to escape.
How much the treasure would be worth today
If the gang did manage to steal as much as alleged, their loot could be worth an estimated $20 million.
The Paymaster’s Lost Gold – $5,000,000+
During the Revolutionary War, Aaron Kitchell, a paymaster for the American Army, left his wife in charge of hiding $50,000 in gold. When the British advanced, she quickly buried the fortune near their home in Hanover Neck, New Jersey.
Before she could tell her husband the exact location, she passed away, only managing to say, “It is under a big tree.” Over the years, treasure hunters have searched the area, hoping to find the lost gold.
Some believe the gold could still be buried somewhere near the banks of the Whippany River.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The gold could be valued at around $5 million, though it could be worth much more because of its historical significance.
John Bacon’s Stolen Loot – $5,200,000+
During the Revolutionary War, “Bloody” John Bacon was a ruthless leader of the Pine Robbers, a gang of Loyalist raiders. He and his men stole cargo by tricking patriot ships into crashing along the New Jersey coast.
In 1783, they attacked sleeping patriot militiamen on Long Beach Island, killing them and taking the loot from a captured British ship.
Bacon supposedly buried the stolen treasure near what is now Barnegat Lighthouse while fleeing from patriot forces. Before he could retrieve it, however, he was killed in a confrontation with the authorities.
How much the treasure would be worth today
A cache of this size could be worth an estimated $5.2 million.
Cudjoe’s Secret Gold Stash – $10,000,000+
Cudjoe was an old man who lived alone in a cabin on what is now Lower Scenic Drive in Highlands, New Jersey. People say he was once part of Captain Kidd’s crew and was trusted to hide several barrels filled with gold coins.
His job was to watch Sandy Hook Bay every day, waiting for a signal that the captain needed his treasure back. Cudjoe waited for years, but the signal never came.
One day, two clammers attacked and killed him, but soon after, their bodies were found on the beach below his cabin.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The amount of gold entrusted to Cudjoe is unclear, but it could possibly be worth around $10 million.
Furman Dubel’s Lost Riches – $7,000,000+
Furman Dubel was a wealthy man who lived in Burlington, New Jersey, during the late 1800s. Stories say he hid over $200,000 in his home and various businesses he owned around town.
Court records from 1884 confirm that a man by that name lived there and was known for his generosity, donating large sums to local charities.
Dubel had no close relatives, which may explain why he kept the location of his fortune to himself.
How much the treasure would be worth today
Furman Dubel’s lost fortune could be worth around $7 million.
The Lost Treasure of the Monmouth Battlefield – $5,000,000+
The Lost Treasure of the Monmouth Battlefield is connected to the Battle of Monmouth, a significant event during the American Revolution in 1778. General George Washington’s troops took valuable supplies and personal belongings during the disorder of the retreat.
Gold coins, silver, and military supplies are said to be part of the cache. Some reports claim that personal items from soldiers and key Revolutionary War figures could also be among the buried goods.
Historians speculate that the treasure was buried around the time of the battle in June 1778. Monmouth Battlefield, now a historic site, may hold the treasure within its dense forests and rolling hills.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The Lost Treasure of the Monmouth Battlefield could be worth an estimated $5 million.
The Barnegat Bay Wreckers – $1,500,000+
The Barnegat Bay Wreckers were people who made a living by looting shipwrecks along the Jersey Shore in the 1800s. When storms caused ships to crash, they would rush to the beach and take whatever cargo washed ashore.
Some even went as far as moving lights near the shore to trick ships into running aground, making it easier to steal the goods. Charlie of Forked River, a former wrecker, admitted that they buried stolen items in the sand to hide them from authorities.
The goods they took included silks, satins, velvet, linen, boots, shoes, and liquor, all valuable items at the time.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The Barnegat Bay Wreckers loot could be worth over $1.5 million.
The Chest of Silver at the Delaware Water Gap – $2,000,000+
The Chest of Silver at the Delaware Water Gap is said to be a treasure hidden during the American Revolution. According to legend, a group of British soldiers, who were retreating from the area, buried a chest filled with silver coins and other valuable items in a remote part of the Delaware Water Gap.
The soldiers, who were retreating from the region, feared that the treasure would be seized by American forces or local rebels. As a result, they chose to bury it in the Delaware Water Gap, hoping it would remain safe until they could return.
It supposedly contained silver bars, coins, and jewelry. Some stories also suggest the chest could include documents or artifacts of historical significance.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The Chest of Silver at the Delaware Water Gap could be worth around $2 million.
