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Turning dusty attic treasures into cash can yield millions for some and disappointment for others
Channel 3000 News/AP ^ | December 16, 2024 | AP Staff

Posted on 12/16/2024 7:38:58 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

Kaja Veilleux has hunted New England attic treasures for more than 50 years. He once found a copy of the Declaration of Independence sitting on a pile of trash, and he made headlines this year when he stumbled upon a million-dollar portrait gathering dust in an old farmhouse in Maine that may have been painted by the Dutch master Rembrandt.

Then there was the time, Veilleux said, he was shown a $50,000 gold coin kicking around in a tool drawer, only to have the well-meaning owner destroy much of its value before he could auction it by using a scouring pad to clean it — and scratch it.

"It's like a treasure hunt every day," Veilleux said, chuckling.

Many people dream of cashing in on some dusty, old heirloom. In October, three sisters from Ohio sold a rare dime for more than a half million dollars. Two years ago, a case of old hockey cards found in a Canadian home sold for more than $3.7 million.

Veilleux, 73, helps people sort gems from junk when he appraises furniture, antiques and art by using his knowledge of what similar items have sold for in the past. But art auctions can be fickle. Who could have guessed a banana duct-taped to a wall could sell for more than $6 million?

Veilleux started collecting coins at age 8 and soon found he had a good memory for visual objects. His training for a career in antique dealing has all been on the job, he said, including a lesson he learned early when he spent most of the money he had at the time on bidding for a beautiful miniature painting.

(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Hobbies; Society
KEYWORDS: coins; epigraphyandlanguage; godsgravesglyphs; renaissance; treasurehunt; treasurehunter; treasurehunters
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To: gleeaikin

Here is a helpful site for current “junk” silver value:

https://www.coinflation.com/silver_coin_values.html


41 posted on 12/16/2024 1:39:54 PM PST by Hegemony Cricket (< < Wandering aimfully > >)
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To: Oorang

Too bad Don is no longer with us. He and I do share the same birthday.


42 posted on 12/16/2024 2:38:01 PM PST by mfish13 (Elections have Consequences.)
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To: Oorang

Too bad Don is no longer with us. He and I do share the same birthday.


43 posted on 12/16/2024 2:38:26 PM PST by mfish13 (Elections have Consequences.)
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To: Reddy; Obadiah; Blurb2350
Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

But market value is a whole other thing.

44 posted on 12/16/2024 4:23:44 PM PST by Albion Wilde (“Did you ever meet a woke person that’s happy? There’s no such thing.” —Donald J. Trump)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; Obadiah
"It always looked like a poster from Spencer Gifts."
Hey! Those are now 'Classics!'

I still have this poster, by Richard Avedon:

It's about 10 inches by four feet, or so.

45 posted on 12/16/2024 4:33:17 PM PST by Albion Wilde (“Did you ever meet a woke person that’s happy? There’s no such thing.” —Donald J. Trump)
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To: Albion Wilde

That’ll be worth something to the right buyer!


46 posted on 12/17/2024 6:48:22 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: hellinahandcart
You called me here because of Thomas Kincade, didn’t you?

Would I do something like that? I don't know how you can accuse me of such a thing!

47 posted on 12/17/2024 11:23:31 AM PST by sauropod ("You didn't take a country. You only won a football game!" - Dan Dakich Ne supra crepidam)
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To: boop; Diana in Wisconsin
"We went to a coin dealer and to every nickel he said: "spendable". Meaning worth a nickel."

The Man Who Bought One Million Dollars Worth of Nickels

48 posted on 12/22/2024 11:01:49 AM PST by blam
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To: blam

49 posted on 12/22/2024 1:58:00 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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