The other day I was watching reruns of Pawnography the History game show were people compete in trivila challenges against the Pawn Stars to win items from The World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. Won of the prizes was a 2014 50 anniversary 3/4 Oz Gold Kennedy Half Dollar. Rick valued the coin at $1800 and said there "like hens teeth to find" Sure Rick the coin is like hens teeth when one could buy it on the Mint's website for $1165 I know the Pawn Stars are complete jerks but you gotta be kidding me right? Valuing a coin at $635 more then one can buy it on The U.S Mint's website. That's just plain ridiculous? Right? -Zach
Yeah, but I know what the OP is saying. Why LIE about facts when the facts themselves are fine? I remember their episode with a shekel of Tyre, (Judas silver). EVERY SINGLE fact they either spoke or put on the screen was wrong. Why make up lies when the truth is just as interesting?
I would examine the possibility of any discrepancies. What date did the show originally air? This was a recent occurrence with our mint. The 1914 $5 was selling for $500 at the mint. They were low MS quality. The going rate for this coin has been closer to $1000+ at that time and still is. Mintage 31,122.
It's a good sales pitch. Makes you watch the next episode to find more mistakes of descriptions. They also overprice the antique guns they purchase also.
I guess it backfired in my case. That was the last episode I ever saw it ticked me off so much. Might as well watched the goofy overscripted idiots on Hardcore Pawn before this hot mess of misinformation.
I still don't mind watching the show mainly because aside from the overpriced item and over the top personalities, I do like seeing some of the items that are brought in. Whether they are scripted or not.
It was in the box it comes from the mint in. On the same show different episode the gave a way a cheap old Rolex. Rick valued it at 10k, for this watch you would be lucky to get 5k if that.
Pure entertainment value, They can be hilarious and just plain dumb. But it has surely taught me a lot about pawn shops in general. Know what you have and it's value if you must pawn something. I go to the local landfill and they have an outdoor shed where you can pick up some really nice stuff at no charge. I've made a lot of money on Ebay this way. And those things, like speakers, stereo systems, chandeliers, etc., that I don't want to deal with, I take to the pawn shop when I get a truckload and then spend the money on coins.
I'm not trying to stereotype all Pawn Brokers, however I do think a lot of them are complete jerks. With the 1922 Peace Dollar I would like to know who would bring it to a crappy Pawn Shop in Las Vegas as a pose to putting it in a auction(other then someone who doesn't know what they have) however the guy who brought the Peace Dollar in clearly knew what he had.
An obviously scripted, ahem, "reality" show in which something "that's just plain ridiculous" is claimed... whodathunkit?
This is my first thought - it might have been filmed right after the Gold Kennedy was released and there was a lot of attention on them. We all know the fury died down and their values dropped, but at the time they were in high demand.