Allan Bashus, of Kannapolis, had only a handful of jewelry and a silver Disney coin with him when he went to the International Coin Collectors Association event at the Holiday Inn Express on Tuesday. But in less than two hours, he was walking out the door with almost $1,200.
“I already called a couple of my friends and told them,” Bashus said. “I think they were pretty honest and gave me a fair amount.”
The association, which also purchase items made of gold and silver, evaluated coins Bashus had with him and offered him $800. Bashus decided to hold onto the coins, but knows he can call the association up if he ever needs some quick cash.
“I would recommend it to anyone,” he said.
The International Coin Collectors Association set up on Monday and as of Tuesday afternoon had already spent more than $5,000 buying coins and jewelry from locals.
Officials budgeted $200,000 to spend in Kannapolis this week, ICCA spokesperson Mark Cooper said.
“We buy a lot of class rings, mismatched earrings and broken necklaces,” Cooper said. “Just a small handful of gold can add up to hundreds of dollars very quickly.”
Jeff Joyce, the show manager for the Kannapolis event, purchased a 1977 Central Cabarrus High School class ring. He said they paid a little more than $200 for the ring.
“Honestly, we buy quite a few of the class rings,” Joyce said. He said they average about $100 to $200 each.
Parker Collins, a buyer for the International Coin Collectors Association, said the value of several gold items can add up quick. They spent about $4,000 just on Monday.
“Four grand sounds like a lot, but that could be one person,” Collins said. “You could write one customer that kind of check.”
Joyce added that silverware sets can bring in a surprise amount of money. Joyce could easily spend $1,000 on a set with the spoons alone costing about $5 to $10 each.
“When you start adding that up, it goes pretty quick,” Joyce said.
Collins also said they purchase broken jewelry and other items, just for the value of the gold.
“As long as it’s gold, it could even be broken stuff,” Collins said. “If it’s gold, you could have the ugliest thing in the world and we’ll still buy it.”
Contact reporter Michael Knox: 704-789-9123.
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