Winner of 1000 Post Giveaway -Name your best garage sale find

northcoin

OK, as tradition dictates on this board I guess it is my turn to sponsor a 1000 post giveaway. Rules are simple - Identify your best garage sale find. It does not have to be a numismatic item and the term "garage sale" is intended to be broad to even include that biggest of all garage sales - Ebay,or any other locale where the underlying motive is to dispose of underappreciated items of value with the value itself not being appreciated by the seller. In other words wow us with that item you would lug to the Antique Road show that you picked up for ten bucks that had a Picasso sketch stuck behind the frame of a "painting" of a bunch of dogs smoking cigars. Winner wil be selected by a drawing and all entrants have equal opportunity to win so there is no need to be creative in imagining a find. Just report whatever your best find was.

Now for the prize - It will be an item of underappreciated value with the value not being fully appreciated by yours truly. The winner can select from a Totes Night Lighter Umbrella with unique headlight, or an Incredible Growing Human Skelton that grows 60% in water.

The giveaway will run for one week through Saturday March 5th, 2005

POST ADDED 3/6/05:

AND THE WINNER IS "CAMEONUT" AS SLECTED BY RANDOM DRAWING.. THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR GREAT ENTRIES - A MOST ENJOYABLE THREAD TO FOLLOW WITH QUITE A VARIETY OF UNUSUAL AND IMPRESSIVE "GARAGE SALE FINDS."

(Cameonut will need to PM as to which prize you select and where you want it mailed..) Northcoin

hamiltonjh

I got a teddy bear for $1 that was worth about $40-$50.


oh yeah....CONGRATULATIONS ON 1000!!!

MrXray

I bought a 100 gallon acrylic fish tank, stand, hood, lighting, and all the extra ( a complete setup) stuff for $50. Worth over $1000.

slothman2000

I once bought a 1935-d WLH graded ms-65 by ACG for a lot less than it was worth...cracked it out and sent it to pcgs for grade...came back ms-65....more than doubled my money....

braddick

A "Slither Beanie Baby. Even though the tongue was split and the swing tag had two creases in it, I sold it on eBay for a tad over $800. (back in the heyday of these toys). It cost me .50c at the garage sale.

northcoin

Wow, some impressive finds so far.

ddbird

Congrats on 1000!

Best garage sale find was made by my padres. Bought a fullsized antique WORKING coke machine, plus a brunswick tournement 3 inch think slate pool table for 200 for the pair. They make the basement homie. One of his friends offered him 3k for the coke machine, but we like it too much.

Edited to add, just remebered....

Papa bought a Original Martin Guitar for $50, recently offered $38k

Neptune

Last weekend I got 3 laminating machine - 3 different brand/sizes worth about $1500 for about $50. I also got a Reba McIntire Jacket for $1 - that I sold for about $40. Once DH found a few nice marked decorative dishes in trash that sold for around a hundred bucks. Heading to auction now, so will let you know if I get any good deals - they have some coins, I am getting ready to look up before heading back. OOH LA LA - I love auctions!

CONGRATS ON YOUR FORUM MILESTONE - AND THAT UMBRELLA SOUNDS KEWL.

ibzman350

Bought this Jadite compote dish at a yard sale for $2.50, sold on ebay for $125.






Herb

Vet

My wife picked this up for $160. with a few e-mails back east it turns out to be a prior hamblen school portrait 1840 early oil., valued at 5k plus.

carl

My best deal so far was a box of 1.000 rounds of .38 Special, factory loads, full metal jackets round nose for $30.00
What was great about it was not supposed to be sold at flea markets.
Also, a few 100# draw cross bows in almost new condition for $10 each.

YCCY9229

My best deal so far is I bought a Canadian large cent for $2 and it is worth $25.

Thanks for the chance!

YC

D

Full set of Star Wars toys for .50 each piece.

-Daniel

Cameonut

Bought a 1927-s SLQ for $2 at a local garage sale - still have it buried in the drawer. If I remember right it would grade Good-Very Good.

indianabyron

I bought a few old books 10 years ago at a garage sale. The lady made me buy the whole box even I only wanted the books about mushrooms to add to my mushroom book collection all of 6 books out 25 or 30. All the other books I gave to my mom. About 2 years later she went through the books and found on that had 5 100$ 1928 GOLD notes. She being the nice mom she was she wanted to return them to me I refused and said that since I had given them to her that they belonged to her. Well we came to the conclusion that we would take them to the lady who I bought the books from. WOW she told my mom that since I bought them she couldnt take them back and that it was tuff luck that she should have looked through them better. Well them for if I remember right just under 3500 I kept 1000 and gave the rest to mom who then went to germany. Now I wish I still had them but in the end I would have sold them 2 years ago when I sold out my currency collection.

Byron

gemini12398

Bought a sterling silver Tiffany platter for $2.50. Seller thought is was silverplate. Oh well...

dunerlaw

I bought a VF 1864 L indian cent for $3.

Sphinx357

<< <i>I bought a few old books 10 years ago at a garage sale. The lady made me buy the whole box even I only wanted the books about mushrooms to add to my mushroom book collection all of 6 books out 25 or 30. All the other books I gave to my mom. About 2 years later she went through the books and found on that had 5 100$ 1928 GOLD notes. She being the nice mom she was she wanted to return them to me I refused and said that since I had given them to her that they belonged to her. Well we came to the conclusion that we would take them to the lady who I bought the books from. WOW she told my mom that since I bought them she couldnt take them back and that it was tuff luck that she should have looked through them better. Well them for if I remember right just under 3500 I kept 1000 and gave the rest to mom who then went to germany. Now I wish I still had them but in the end I would have sold them 2 years ago when I sold out my currency collection.

Byron >>



wow
very cool

jdimmick

Probably nothing related to coins, but I like one of the other Board members bought a collection of starwars toys including a whole set of the 14" figures for about 75.00. Ended up selling for over 1000k whne all was said and done. That was several years ago.


jim

indianabyron

Ya cool but i still in a way kick myself for not looking through the books myself. Live and learn hey we even tryed to give it back.

Byron

PS I still have the mushroom books

RYC

Too bad, I haven't get any good deals so far.

BigGreek

I got a can opener for 25 cents that was word about $8 once.
I actually used it to open cans for several years until it broke
and then threw it out.

northcoin

Thanks for the input. Interesting responses.

Baley

A set of skis, bindings, boots, poles, and a bag to carry it all in.... $50
I got priceless fun out of those skis

PreTurb

Bought an old wooden ouija board at an estate auction for $5. Turns out it was the first model ever made. Sold for close to $400 on ebay in the early days, around 1997, without a photo.

Hedger

I found a Lincoln cent collection at a yard sale hidden in a stack of books when I was twelve. It was not complete but it did have an '09 VDB. The lady said she had them for years and all they did was sit in the closet. Needless to say, I happily paid the ten dollars without a second thought. Now for the best part. Upon closer inspection of the coins I found a 1909 S in the 1910 slot and a 14 D in the in the 14 S slot! It was the happiest year yet of my childhood. I still have these cents today.

razorface1027

A 1oz. silver ingot for .50 cents & a Sheffield sterling silver 6 piece (6 spoons, 6 knives, 6 forks, 6 tablespoons, 6 soup spoons) place setting for $5.00. A good day at the garage sale. I've yet to find an old lady or old man selling off GSA CCs in the black boxes for cheap. Though, it is wishful thinking.



Tom

northcoin

Thanks for the additions.

tsacch

I got a Paxton Supercharger for a 1959 studebaker........$50, great amazing piece of automotive history and sold it for $300 a couple weeks later........should have kept it.

northcoin

It's interesting that most of the finds reported are other than numismatic. If anything unknowlegeable sellers probably overvalue the old coins they offer?

boyhowdy

I bought a fancy shell-shaped centerpiece at a swap meet in 1981 for $35. It is breadbox sized with
4 gargoyle feet supporting an open shell that's about 4 X 10 inches. Something to put flowers in. Pan sits on the top of the handle
with his flute. As I stripped the gold paint off the piece the amazing detail quality slowly emerged. Turned
out to be pewter with 1799 inscribed underneath. Had it appraised for $1200-1500 20 years ago.

Also found a heavy ornate ladies jewelry box about 4 X 6 inches with a Hapsburg type design. You know,
an eagle holding a globe in one claw and a cross in the other. Only marking was "25" on the bottom. A dealer told me
later that right after WWI European silversmiths were bemoaning the fact that fluctuating silver prices often meant that
hallmarked sterling went right from the craftsman to the melting pot. As a result some of the smiths began marking their sterling
items with the 25 stamp in an attempt to slow down the melting of their products.

I used to spend a lot of time at swap meets and bought tons of crap while my eye was developing.

Steve

Heywood

Best coin- VF 1892-s Morgan in junk silver box. ( $12.00)

Non-coin- 3 Topps Terry Bradshaw rookie cards for $0.25

Congrats on 1000!

eyoung429

bought an anniversary clock that the owner said was broken.

Took it home and found that the years of crud had stopped the movement, light cleaning and sold it on E-bay 3yrs ago for almost $600

Paid $5

Went over the next day and treated the family to a bbq.

Scavenger

I guess it was about 7-8 years ago, I was at a garage sale and this guy had thirty silver dollars laid out on one of those folding tables. I asked him how much he was selling them for and he said that he would take $300 for the lot. The coins werent graded but were all in very good condition. I didnt have $300 on me at the time, I might have had $100 if that.
I looked around at other things for a little bit and he said I'll tell you what, I'll take $275 if you're interested. Not having that much cash on me I didnt bother checking mint marks, but even if these coins were all common dates I think it would have been a steal at that price. Like they say hindsight is 20/20.

kidd

Won an auction on Ebay for a lot of Franklin halves. when i received them there was almost 200 BU 1951 and 51d halves. bought the whole lot for less than half melt value. thats the best deal ive gotten so far.

northcoin

And now to hear from the Tuesday crowd.

Outhaul

Best coin finds: 132 assorted Morgan and Peace dollars (17 CC's), all circulated, all common date...$2.50 each (last year)
$10.00 Indian mounted in bezel for $75.00 (same garage sale)

Best general finds: Brass Chelsea Shipstrike Clock and matching barometer for $40.00. These were mid 19th century models worth around $1,000.00
Ansonia mantle clock...$25.00, thought to be a reproduction but was original. Sold it for $2,500.00

Coingrats on your milestone!

Cheers,

Bob

Cherwood

A Francoma pottery Christmas plate for 10 cents that's worth about $75.00.

northcoin

Kudos to all who have participated to date. Three days left for additional entries/reportings.

MadMonk

I bought 4, top of the line, professional Kitchen knives worth about $100.00 ea. for $1.00 ea. so $400.00 worth of knives for $4.00.

northcoin

Those saving the best for last --- giveaway ends this weekend.

nwcs

I haven't been to a garage sale in many years. So I'll say the best find I had was a bit of costume jewelry I got for my mom back when I was 13 and had a paper route and one of the customers had a garage sale.

raycyca

Best find was a Boston and Sandwich piece of glass for $55 on E-bay worth over $5000. Best gold was at Christmas 3 ounces of 24K jewelry for $300. Best coin was a 2003-D PCGS MS 68 Kennedy (POP1) for $175, offered $1550 and turned it down-made a great friend because of it. Congrats on 1K! Ray

northcoin

Final Day. Will post winner on Sunday.

Sphinx357

I bought a rare national (paper money like in my sig) with 2 known on eBay for roughly $400 and someone paid me $4k for it. Then it sold again for $8,600 or so a few months ago on Heritage.
I should've just consigned it to Heritage myself, but still not a bad score

mirabela

Complete first season of "The Sopranos," five bucks!

laserart

My family and I were going to a state park for the day to have a cookout and some fun at the lake. It was only about a 60 mile jaunt and I was going over the things I was responsible for packing as I was driving. About 40 miles into the trip I suddenly realized I hadn't packed anything to turn the hamburgers and hot dogs over with on the fire. Up ahead I saw a sign that read "yard sale" and immediately thought there was a chance I could find something. As we neared the place I looked on the table and saw a spatula right on the front of the table and I came to a screeching halt. I hopped out and snapped that thing up, got it for a quarter. That was the best find ever, it saved the day and as it turned out was the best spatula we ever had and after 15 years or so we're still using it. (true story, I'm thinking of submitting it to Readers Digest)

nesvt

I thought about collecting stamps 20 or so years ago. Picked up a paper bag full (small lunch bag size) of old envelopes for $2 at a small yard sale. Most had stamps and were all from local post offices. Dated early 1900's to the 1960's. Never collected stamps and lost track of the bag until last year. Found a few postcards in the bag. Put one on eBay. Sold for $170.

northcoin

Hope others have been as entertained as I have by the many and varied reported "finds."

northcoin

ttt

Myqqy

One of my best garage sale finds was finding a handmade 2 story wood dollhouse that serves as a comfy crash pad for my weasels.......