"I think the way that we protect the image of our award and the way we protect the whole notion of the award -- we don't allow that icon, the Oscar statuette, to be used by anyone else in any other context, " says Unger.

CNN: From Oscars to Razzies, there's no shortage of movie awards

And there's one more possibility: The searchers over the years could have been looking for a shiny Oscar statuette and they may have overlooked the plaque McDaniel actually received.

NPR: The Curious Case Of A Missing Academy Award

Close, but no statuette--the Oscar went to Jamie Foxx.

FORBES: Magazine Article

After five nominations but no Oscar statuette, Scorsese's patience was finally rewarded in 2007 for The Departed.

BBC: Martin Scorsese: What the Oscar winner did next