Humans generally appreciate rags to riches stories, but for
some set of unsuspicious individuals, ‘Rags’ actually ends up being worth
millions. From an original declaration of independence worth an estimated
$2.42m to a giant pearl worth $100m, these people can agree that one man’s
trash is honestly another man's fortune. A lot of times, among the pile of old junk, are amazing items that are worth treasures and while of course, a few people
spend their whole lives hunting for treasure, it easily falls into the laps of others.
Accordingly, treasures are hidden away for several years or
perhaps used before its owner realizes the real truth about its worth. Ever
found a dollar in the pocket of an old coat? What was your reaction? If you can
fantasize about the aforesaid question, you then can relate to the feelings of
these people compiled here. Have a look at a few stories that have been found.
Do enjoy it!
The $6.6M Christ Mocked
unknown -Via
An elderly woman from Compiegne France planned to sell her
house, so she welcomed in an auctioneer, but an expert, Philomene Wolf ensured to
check if anything was worth saving bore being thrown into the dumpster.
Luckily, a painting depicting Jesus Crucifixion, which dates back to 13th
century turned out to be worth an estimated $4-6.6million.
$15K Picasso Plate From 1955
Antiques Roadshow PBS -Via
A woman in the 1970s was a keen plate collector and turned
out she purchased a plate in Rhode Island for below $100. The plate appeared
cute, hence she hung it on the wall of her kitchen. For several years it sat
above her stove but found it’s worth $10,000 to $15,000 on visiting an
Antiques Roadshow. ‘This is fabulous. It does pay off to collect things.’ The
woman stated.
$5M Photo Of Billy The Kid
Unknown -Via
An unsuspicious man purchased a photo in 2015 from an
antique shop for just $2. Shortly after, it turned out the photo featured the 19th
century Billy the Kid and members of the Lincoln County gang who were playing
croquet. It’s actually the 2nd photo of the infamous burglar and it’s
valued at $5million.
The $1M Baseball Cards
Antiques Roadshow PBS -Via
In 2015, a woman brought forth a set of old baseball she
discovered in a desk drawer to Antiques Roadshow. Being a collection of her
great-great-grandmother, the collection comprised cards for Boston Red
Stockings players and equally a letter. The woman was overwhelmed to find out
it was actually worth $1million.
$200K Apple I Computer
ArnoldReinhold -Via
An old Apple computer was dropped off by a woman at the recycling
center situated in Silicon Valley. The woman found it inside boxes of
electronics while cleaning out her garage. Interestingly, the mysterious woman didn’t
leave a tax receipt nor any contact information. It was interestingly one of
only about 200 Steve Jobs's first-generation desktop computers but sold to a
private collector for $200,000.
$607K Diamond Ring
Queensmith -Via
A West London based, Debra Goddard purchased a glass ring at
a boot sale for $13 in 1986. Thirty-three years later Debra found out the ring
had a 26.27-carat diamond, of which she auctioned it and earned at an
astounding $607,900.
£4K Topaz Ring With Diamonds
Thea Jourdan -Via
Thea Jourdan in 2011 visited a secondhand shop and bought a
brooch. It was bought for £20, but later she found out that the stone on the
brooch was a topaz weighing 20 carats. An appraiser specifically informed Thea
that the worth of the brooch was nearly £4,000.
$20M Faberge Egg
The Jewellery Editor -Via
A scrap metal entrepreneur purchased a golden egg for
$14,000, with the hope he will make some profit when the piece is resold.
Fortunately, the dealer found one of the eight missing Faberge imperial eggs at
a flea market and suspected there’s something rare about it. It was, however,
sold for up to $20million. Both the buyer and seller remain anonymous.
$1.5M Navajo Blanket
verseinspire2 -Via
A California man was barely getting by with disability checks
having lost his leg an in an accident in 2007. One night, Loren Krytzer found that
his firs part Navajo Blanket is worth half a million dollars. Soon enough, he
walked into an auction room broke and unemployed but did walkout as a
millionaire.
$100M Giant Pearl
Aileen Cynthia Maggay-Amurao -Via
A fisherman’s anchor got stuck on what he believed was a
rock. He carried it home as a good luck charm. In 2016, the fisherman took the
rock to a local tourism office located in Puerto Princesa, where it was said
to be worth $100million.
$145K Cherokee Satchel From The 1800s
Antiques Roadshow PBS -Via
A San Diego woman visited an Antiques Roadshow. She
purchased in a satchel for her great-grandfather, who was a lieutenant in the
Army. The bag was a thank-you gift for being kind to his people. Turned out,
with documentation valued at $8000, the piece would be worth $100,000, but in
2013 the restored value of the bag stood at $145,000.
2.42M Declaration Of Independence
500 copies of the Declaration of Independence was
printed, but in 1989, just twenty-three copies existed. One man
in the same year purchased an old painting for $4 but realized that the
document on the painting was a fortune. It was sold for $2.42million at an
auction.
400K John Constable Painting
BBC News -Via
Kept in a cupboard for several years, this little painting is worth half a million dollars. It was originally bought for $38
in the British city of Canterbury in 2000. Turned out the 19th
century painting by John Constable stood at $400,000.
100K Edmore Meteorite
WoodTV8 -Via
A man in Edmore, Michigan used this 22.5-pound hunk of iron as a doorstep on
his farm in the late 80s. Only 30 years later, the farmer realized that the
stone named ‘Edmore’ is recognized as the 6th largest to be
discovered and sold for $100K. A geology professor from Central Michigan
University, who was contacted by the farmer had taken a look at the rock.
$400K Diamond And Ruby Ring
Antiques Roadshow PBS -Via
A woman inherited jewels from her great aunt. Back in 1998,
experts realized she actually had a dual diamond pendant that’s worth $12,000
and equally a diamond and ruby ring that’s worth $80,000. At today’s values,
the piece is worth an estimated $400,000.
