How come this s*** like this never happens to me??

[Brigid]

On "Pawn Stars," this lady brought in a gold coin she found in a wall safe while renovating the house she just bought. Rick told her that there's a good chance it's counterfeit; but even if it is, it's still made of 22K gold and worth $900 for that alone. But an expert said it's real and worth two grand. Rick gave her $1500 for it.

[Art_from_Ark]

1. I just wonder how they thought that it was fake, but still 22K?

Traditionally, US gold coins were made of 90% gold and 10% other metal (copper and/or silver), which puts them at a little over 21K. Current US bullion coins are made of either 22K or 24K gold, but for all practical purposes there is no collector value in any of them except for a tiny number of 1/4 ounce and 1/2 ounce American Eagles. But it's doubtful that anyone is making fakes of those from real 22K gold. So...

If it contained $900 worth of 22K gold, the closest coin I can think of that would resemble that and is not a bullion coin would be a British 2 pound gold coin. Some of the older ones have numismatic value while the newer ones do not.

I would really like to know more about this coin, though. Is there anywhere where I can watch that particular program online?

[grasswire]

2. try the history channel web site

I believe the episodes are there.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. I tried to access it through the History Channel,

but the @$%# won't let me access the video from my area (Japan). Do you remember the name of the episode or what else was featured on it? I am really curious about this.

[grasswire]

4. I didn't see it.

But I'll nose around on the web site later today to see if I can find anything.

[nolabear]

5. Would you believe I just got a story from a friend about a gold coin in his yard worth thousands?

No kidding. The friend lives in a very old section of New Orleans and--I am not making this up--their pet hen was scratching in their courtyard garden and scratched up a dollar coin from God-knows-when. Their place is verynear where an old NO mint was. They had it appraised and it's worth several grand. I've seen photos. I told him I'd be at that place with a backhoe faster than you could say "Gimme the money!" but I haven't heard any news yet.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. US $1 gold coins were minted from 1849 until 1889

If the coin (which is smaller than a dime) was actually made at the New Orleans mint, it would have an "O" under the wreath on the reverse (tails side), and there would be only 6 year possibilities-- 1849, 50, 51, 52, 53, and 55. About half of the years are relatively common, and probably wouldn't be worth anywhere near several grand, but one variety of the 1849, as well as the 1850, are worth a bit more than $1000 in "found in the courtyard" condition.