(Defunct?) Decipher Jigsaw Series ($100,000 each)

[astree]

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These began in the 1980's. Puzzles I and II are solved. Can't find info on III saying its solved.

youtu.be/-XnCfS3ee8c

Cipher III explanation starts at 34:00.

[lck282]

FYI, my info on Decipher III indicated it was to end after 54 months (18 months allowed for each message to be solved before it's solution was given). I think about the same time newspapers had stories about huge embezzlement at Decipher, Inc and the brother was fired. Nothing happened with new products for many months. Eventually I started seeing jigsaws for Decipher and eventually collectible card games. Here's the basic description info I kept on Decipher III jigsaw/contest:

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Decipher III (published 1987) was very similar to Decipher II (published 1985). Key differences were that there were only three coded messages on the gold colored puzzle instead of four codes on a silver puzzle and you did not get prize money for solving one of the three messages. Those who solved the messages in Decipher III were eligible to play in a “runoff contest” to crack a given code and the first to do so would win the entire $100,000.

Similar to Decipher II, the booklet that accompanied Decipher III listed info on the solution of Decipher I. But the list of 44 authors in four groups (group A, B, C and D) had been changed to 33 authors in three groups (group A, B and C) and the list of five initial clues for Message #1 had been reduced to three initial clues for message #1.

Like Decipher II, the solution for Decipher I was given as an example, the list of initial clues were just as cryptic, phone hotline clues were to be released once a month, the first message had to be solved before the second or third, the second message had to be solved before the third, solutions were to be reviewed at the end of each month and if after 18 months no solution was found for the current message the solution was to be made public but the prize money would still be given to the overall winner at the end.

Examples of initial clues for Decipher III are: “The author you seek to find the key is from the group that’s labeled B.” and “End”.

The winner would be receiving their $100,000 winnings in solid gold instead of choosinge between gold, silver, diamonds or cash.
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Hope that helps. Let me know if you need any further info. I think most of the jigsaws still come up regularly on eBay.