The final unsolved passage of the mysterious Kryptos sculpture at the CIA headquarters has had its solution sold at auction for $962,500. The anonymous bidder now holds the key to the 97-character code, which has baffled cryptographers for decades.
Artist Jim Sanborn, the creator of the iconic artwork, decided to part with the solution to the fourth passage, known as K4, earlier this year. He expressed relief at no longer being responsible for the secret and the constant inquiries from puzzle enthusiasts.
Key Takeaways
- The solution to Kryptos's K4 passage sold for $962,500.
- The winning bidder remains anonymous.
- Artist Jim Sanborn created Kryptos in 1990 at CIA headquarters.
- K4 is the final and longest unsolved section of the sculpture's code.
- The solution was inadvertently archived at the Smithsonian by Sanborn.
The End of a Decades-Long Mystery
The Kryptos sculpture, dedicated in 1990, stands prominently at the Central Intelligence Agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Its winding copper sheets feature four distinct passages of encrypted text.
Over the years, three of these passages have been successfully decrypted by both amateur and professional codebreakers. However, the fourth passage, K4, has remained a formidable challenge, resisting all attempts at decryption.
The 97-character sequence, "OBKRUOXOGHULBSOLIFBBWFLRVQQPRNGKSSOTWTQSJQSSEKZZWATJKLUDIAWINFBNYPVTTMZFPKWGDKZXTJCDIGKUHUAUEKCAR," symbolizes the enduring nature of secrets.
Kryptos Facts
- Artist: Jim Sanborn
- Installation Year: 1990
- Location: CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia
- Number of Passages: Four
- Characters in K4: 97
Artist Seeks Relief from the Puzzle
Jim Sanborn, now 80 years old, made the decision to auction off the solution to K4. He had grown tired of the decades-long stream of correspondence from individuals who believed they had cracked the code.
His intention was to transfer the responsibility of safeguarding the secret and responding to queries to a new owner. The auction, managed by RR Auction, initially estimated the solution and related artifacts would fetch between $300,000 and $500,000.
The sale generated significant interest, highlighting the public's fascination with cryptographic puzzles and intelligence agency lore.
An Unexpected Twist Before the Auction
The auction process encountered an unforeseen development in early September. Two journalists, Jarett Kobek and Richard Byrne, contacted Sanborn with a remarkable claim: they had discovered the plain text of K4.
Their discovery did not come from decryption efforts. Instead, they pieced together the solution from scraps of paper Sanborn had inadvertently left in a folder among materials he donated to the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art.
Sanborn initially requested the journalists sign a nondisclosure agreement and offered them a portion of the auction proceeds. They declined but ultimately chose not to reveal the plain text themselves, preserving the mystery for the auction.
"Believe it or not, it’s a relief not to be glued to my phone for an hour or more a day reading emails and sometimes giving people bad news," Sanborn stated, expressing his satisfaction with the outcome.
The Allure of Unsolved Codes
Unsolved codes and ciphers have long captivated public imagination. From ancient riddles to modern digital encryption, the challenge of breaking a secret message holds a unique appeal. Kryptos stands as a modern testament to this enduring fascination, blending art with the world of espionage.
Bidding Surpasses Expectations
Despite the pre-auction revelation that the solution had been inadvertently archived, the sale proceeded with considerable momentum. By Thursday morning, bids had already exceeded $300,000.
As the initial bidding phase concluded at 7 p.m., the highest offer stood at $432,669, nearing the upper end of the auction house’s initial estimate. The final 30-minute bidding period saw intense competition, with bids required to increase by at least 10 percent.
The virtual gavel finally fell at 8:23 p.m. Eastern time. The winning bid reached $770,000. With the auction house’s premium added, the total payment amounted to $962,500.
Sanborn expressed his satisfaction with the final price, remarking, "We did OK." The sale marks a significant moment in the history of the Kryptos puzzle, transferring its ultimate secret into private hands.
What Happens Next for Kryptos?
The identity of the anonymous bidder remains unknown. This individual now holds the sole official key to the final passage of Kryptos. It is uncertain whether the new owner will eventually reveal the solution to the public or choose to keep it secret, much like Sanborn did for decades.
The sale of the K4 solution adds another layer to the mystique surrounding Kryptos, ensuring its place in the annals of art and cryptography.