It might seem like all the priceless treasures of the world are locked up in museums, universities and government institutions, but that's far from the truth.

Because while big finds are rare, they do happen. Whether it's a stolen piece of fine art or a long-lost artifact out of antiquity, items often change hands, and their origins can easily become muddled or forgotten entirely.

At least until someone with the right knowledge and a whole lot of luck recognizes one of these valuables as the unbelievable find that it is.

So the next time you're considering tackling that mess in the attic or waking up early to hit the garage sale circuit, motivate yourself with the thought that today could be the day you stumble across your big find. Because eventually, items tend to resurface, and sometimes they're full of surprises. Often very valuable surprises, at that.