Pawn Stars episode with Byzantine gold coin, Constantine IX

WillieBoyd2

Coins on Television, continued:

The History Channel program "Pawn Stars" episode "Cold Hard Cash", first broadcast on
November 14, 2013, featured a Byzantine gold coin.

The host, Rick Harrison, bought the coin from the seller for $1100.

David Vagi of NGC Ancients identified the emperor as Constantine IX, AD 1033-1055,
and told Rick it was worth $700 to $1000.

Rick thought it was worth more because it was gold and 1000 years old.

Screenprints of the coin:





The closest one I can find on Wildwinds is SB 1829,
Constantine IX, 1042-1055, AV Histamenon Nomisma, Constantinople.
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/constantine_IX/t.html

worldcoinguy

I still love that show after all the time its been on. I'll have to look for that episode.

Rick could do the audience a favor and talk for a moment about how important it is to handle coins correctly. It looks like he is pinching the coin with his fat thumb on the surface.

nicholasz219

Worldcoinguy: I agree. Something simple like that can be a quick painless piece of education for any latent coin collecting folks out there.

SaorAlba

He buys enough coins that you would have thought he could have spent five minutes googlering on the internets to have known better.

I wish he had his book expert on more - she is kinda cute.

Stork

I think Chum has the hots for Rebecca-the-book-lady.

I saw one episode where a guy brought in a Goetz...IIRC he had some details wrong on that (Rick needs a Coin expert to trot out too, anyone in Vegas??) but was not too far off. He also had some slabbed salvage coins come in, he paid more than I guessed, but the guy does know what will sell and apparently he does well with that stuff.

The Old Man has a love affair with silver that I can appreciate, and one episode had his penny stash featured.

Can you tell I love that show? Sometimes as a collector I cringe at the prices, but the reality is they are running a shop and no matter how cool an item is, if it will sell it's good. If it won't, too bad. It's a different thought process.


Cathy

FilthyBroke

<< <i>He buys enough coins that you would have thought he could have spent five minutes googlering on the internets to have known better.

I wish he had his book expert on more - she is kinda cute. >>



I agree, and I agree.

I saw this episode and he just seemed to throw aside all caution on this purchase. I figured it was just for the show because otherwise his decision makes no sense.

worldcoinguy

Episode link

Coin scene around 13:30