Hundreds of people from across the Lower Mainland collected up their old trinkets from their attics in the hopes of scoring big at an antiques appraisal event in 黑马磁力 City last week.
The Great Canadian Roadshow set up shop at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre April 10-14 where appraisers wrote cheques 鈥� some worth thousands of dollars 鈥� to patrons who brought in valuable collector鈥檚 items.
鈥淲e buy all kinds of stuff from gold, silver coins, war memorabilia (to) musical instruments,鈥� show manager David Gachie said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a wide variety of stuff we鈥檙e looking for.鈥�
He said most people brought coins to the 黑马磁力 event, but he鈥檚 also seen war memorabilia such as bayonets pass through.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e looking for is really rare coins like the 1948 silver dollar or the 1921 nickel,鈥� Gatchie said, adding those items can fetch anywhere from $13,000 to $30,000 depending on their condition.
The Great Canadian Roadshow works for a group of about 6,000 collectors who authorize a team of professional appraisers to purchase valuable items.
Appraisers review a computerized database to see if any of the collectors want the items people bring in.
Appraiser Kevin Hansen said one individual who brought a gold watch last Wednesday was able to leave with $2,000.
Although coins tend to go for the highest prices, he said war memorabilia 鈥� such as SS daggers or Iron Crosses 鈥� are usually the most interesting items he comes across.
Colton Berrard brought in a coin he found washed up on the Fraser River last year. Although the coin wasn鈥檛 listed in the collector database, Hansen encouraged him to mail it to a specialized coin appraiser to get it authenticated.
鈥淗onestly, I don鈥檛 care what it鈥檚 worth. It鈥檚 more about sentimental value than anything,鈥� Berrard said before adding he would be willing to sell it if the price was right.
Berthe Greenwood and her son Lawrence Greenwood were able to pocket some cash with a collection of coins that have been sitting in their home since the mid-1970s.
鈥淲e brought quite a lot of stuff in and found out some of it is not worth anything and some of it is of some value,鈥� Berthe said.
She and her son walked out of the event with a cheque for $200.
Lawrence said the extra cash will be nice to have, but he mostly came just to see if the coins were worth anything.
鈥淢ore than anything, we found out some of it is just spending money.
鈥淲hy hang onto it if it鈥檚 just spending money?鈥� he said.
