You might be surprised by what people bring into your shop, so make sure you’re ready for anything with help from these rare pawn shop items.
Have you ever had an item that seemed worthless to you turn into something extremely valuable when you sold it at auction?
It happens sometimes. Sometimes people just don’t know what they have on their hands. Other times, things go out of style or fall out of favor for a time but eventually become very collectible indeed.
Free Slots You Can Play Online - Quick and EasyPeople who bring items into your shop are relying on your expertise and knowledge to determine the value of what they want to pawn or sell outright. But every now and then even the most seemingly innocuous object can prove to be quite valuable after all.
In case you’re uncertain about an item, it never hurts to send it in for authenticating and appraisal. There have been some surprise finds in recent years that netted big bucks at auction. Take a look below at seven surprising examples of rare pawn shop items.
1. A T-Shirt Worn Understage at Nirvana Concerts
You probably wouldn’t give a sweat-soaked t-shirt a second thought, let alone consider it one of the more valuable pawn shop items. Who would, right?
Think again. One such t-shirt fetched $137,500 at auction in 2018. Why so much?
online casino highest payout rateThis particular t-shirt was worn by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana’s In Utero tour. It was part of a collection of 16 stage-worn pieces of clothing Cobain wore under his shirts to buffer himself against fan contact.
The collector who bought the shirt intends to display the front and back along with the actual concert shirt Cobain wore during those performances. The collector chose to remain anonymous.
But maybe you won’t remain anonymous if you buy or pawn one of these seven rare pawn shop items.
2. Bette Davis’ Pearl Earrings
Actress Bette Davis was famous not only for her beauty and talent but also for her large, prominent ears. She supposedly once quipped she’d be a “star” if it weren’t for her face.
It makes one wonder why this pair of vintage pearl drop earrings brought just $4,750 at auction recently. Unless… they’re fake?
who owns shooting star casinoThe earrings were brought in to be pawned, but the pawnbroker declined to pawn them because he suspected they might be imitations. He turned out to be correct; further examination proved they were indeed fakes.
Maybe that’s why the estate of Bette Davis put them up for auction. Regardless, even fake pearls drop (ahem) rather nicely into our list of rare pawn shop items.
3. Unopened Packets of 1952 Topps Baseball Cards
Baseball cards used to come in packs of five for a nickel. Sometimes you’d get lucky and pull a double or even a triple action pose card. If you were really lucky you’d find a mickey mare inside.
If only you’d held onto those cards…
A collector recently shelled out $240,000 for unopened packets of 1952 Topps baseball cards. That comes out to $12,000 per card on average since nine cards were in each packet and eight of them were always worthless to a young collector like me.
Best Free Casino Games Online You Can Play Right NowSo, the lesson here is clear. Invest in mickey mares!
These pawn shop items may seem rare, but trust me, uncashed lottery tickets are even rarer. Much rarer.
4. A Mickey Mug from the 1933-34 World’s Fair
Here’s another of those rare pawn shop items you might have overlooked.
This coffee mug featuring everyone’s favorite mouse brought in a cool $66,000 when its owner pawned it at a Los Angeles prop and costume shop. The shop specializes in items from movies, television shows, and other entertainment venues.
The mug was originally given to a worker at the 1933-34 World’s Fair. At first glance, it appears to feature Walt Disney’s most famous cartoon character, but the worker who received it believed it depicted “Mickey Mau,” a character related to a popular soft drink at the fair.
Regardless of who or what is depicted on the mug, the buyer says it was a great investment. He expected it might fetch around $20,000, so the final selling price represented a healthy return on his initial investment.
fast cashout casinoPerhaps you will experience similar success when that uncashed lottery ticket shows up at your shop.
5. A Pair of Michael Jackson Gloves
Michael Jackson was known for his moonwalking and for wearing single gloves to cover only one hand. Now, one of his gloves has found a home, fetching $407,000 at auction.
Free Spins No Deposit Required Canada 2023 - Best No Deposit BonusThe glove was originally purchased by a collector in 1984. He bought it as a prop from Beatriz Bourdillon, a wardrobe supervisor for Capt. EO, a 15-minute 3D musical film starring Michael Jackson.
Capt. EO played exclusively at Disney theme parks throughout the world from 1986 until 1997.
The black leather glove set a record as the most expensive piece of celebrity-worn clothing ever sold. The winning bidder was Japan’s largest glory auctioneering company.
If you’re looking for equally lucrative auction items, check out these 10 high-demand auction items that aren’t antiques.
6. Neil Armstrong’s Lunar Boots
It wasn’t a glove but a pair of boots that reached astronomical proportions (I couldn’t resist) at auction recently.
Neil Armstrong’s boots, which the astronaut wore when he became the first human to walk on the moon, fetched $1.8 million at auction.
best mobile pokerThe boots were part of a collection of Armstrong’s mementos from his historic moonwalk. The collection included his orange coverall, a data book, a pair of gloves, and the boots.
The entire collection sold for $1.5 million, far above its estimated value of $500,000 to $1 million.
Each step Armstrong took on the moon was a giant leap forward for mankind. Each dollar someone was willing to pay for the boots at auction represents just how significant that first step really was.
Speaking of steps, do you know how a pawnshop can help you take the next step in achieving your goals? Read the post below to find out.
7. A Ransome Note on Nepenthe Napkins
It wasn’t for sale, and it isn’t exactly the kind of thing most people would think to save, but a ransom note composed on napkins from Nepenthe in Big Sur's sale fetched $27,500 at auction recently.
For those unfamiliar with the story, Steve Robbins, the son of Nepenthe founder Lino e Cali Rollo, used the restaurant’s napkins to compose a ransom note he left behind when he disappeared in 1977.
things to consider before choosing an online casino in FinlandAuthorities determined the notes had been written on Nepenthe napkins, and Lino Rollo notified the staff when his son failed to appear for a pre-arranged phone call. Steve Robbins’ body was found three weeks later near a waterfall several miles above the restaurant.
The two napkins on which Robbins composed the ransom note were sold by an anonymous buyer at Sotheby’s in New York City. The buyer also remained anonymous.
Maybe someone will bring your rare pawn shop items to your shop next. Or maybe someone will leave their rare pawn shop items in your shop next. That could cause problems. Make sure you know what to do if this happens with the tips in this post.
21+ State: Maryland Gambling AgeMore of the Best Pawn Shop Items
Of course, you won’t see many – if any – of the rare pawn shop items in your shop very often. After all, the very rarest items of this nature are one-of-a-kind.
On the other hand, there are some items that routinely show up in pawn shops that might surprise you. For example, did you know that guns are among the best pawn shop items to buy and sell?
Find out why dealers love firearms and what other items make our list of the best pawn shop inventory in this post.
Bennington Castle is a daily stop for reporters seeking information for their stories. We’re also featured on many local, regional, and national TV programs and documentaries. And we’ve been at the forefront of the pawn industry, frequently testing the waters and setting trends for others to follow.
If you’re interested in learning more about the pawn business, consider taking our pawning and pawn broker training course.
We teach everything you need to know to get your license and start your own pawn shop. Or, if you’d prefer to work with others who already know the ropes, consider a career with us.
Either way, Bennington Castle is the place to be if you want to learn more about this interesting and rewarding line of work.
Tips to Help You Stay Safe While Enjoying Online PokerStop in and visit us often for more rare pawn shop items and other interesting posts. Because, frankly, you just never know what’s going to show up around here!
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