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People who are lucky accident
One pair of Northern California was lucky enough to find rare gold coins worth $ 10 million, buried in the backyard of their home. If you are not lucky as they do not give up and do not despair! Perhaps in the future, your luck will be more favorable to you, and you will find a welcome wealth, as well as people from this list.
1. Lose hammer, find treasure
In November 1992, a farmer who lived near the village Hoksn (Suffolk, UK), working in the field, lost a hammer. He decided to ask Eric Laus help him find a tool with a metal detector. When conducting searches Laus came across far more interesting things: 24 bronze coins, 14, 191 silver coins, 565 gold coins, plus hundreds of gold and silver spoons, jewelry and statues dating from the times of the Roman Empire.
As required by UK law, the so-called "treasure Hoksnskom" reported to the local authorities, who declared him a national treasure of the country. However, in such cases, the British government is obliged to pay a finder treasure its full value in monetary terms, this means that the farmer and Eric Laus divided between a pleasant surprise in the form of £ 1.75 million. Hoksnsky treasure is now in the British Museum, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
A hammer? It has never been found. Although he now needs someone ?!
2. The best friend of the girls - it's Arkansas
In 1924, Wesley Oley Bassum found a giant gemstone - diamond weighing 40 carats - near Murfreesboro (Arkansas, USA), at the site of what is now a state park "Diamond Crater." Perched atop kemberlitovoy tube (vertical geological body, formed as a result of an ancient underground volcanic explosion), the park - the only diamond mine in the world, which is open to the public. The principle of the park policy states: "Anything you find is yours, regardless of the value».
Bassum huge discovery, which was called "Diamond Uncle Sam", is the largest diamond ever found in North America. After the treatment, and weight of the diamond cut down to 12.42 carats, and in 1971 it was sold for $ 150, 000 (today the cost would be $ 800, 000). But it was not only a precious stone found in the lands of Arkansas.
In 1964, at the same place was found "Star of Murfreesboro" - diamond weighing 34 carats, later, in 1975 - "Amarillo Starlight" (16 carats), and another 31 years - "Diamond Rodin." But the gem of the park is considered a "diamond Straun-Wagner" was found in 1990. Its original weight was only 3 carats after cutting even less - 1.90 carat. Despite this relatively small size, "Diamond Straun-Wagner" stands out among the others in that American society gemmological called it the perfect jewel - the first diamond that has ever received such high praise.
Interestingly, in the park "Diamond Crater" on average, are two diamonds on a daily basis, of course, are not as big as the "Diamond Uncle Sam", but still ...
3. Declaration (financial) independence
Have you ever heard a story about a man who bought the painting at a garage sale for $ 4 and found inside its original US Declaration of Independence, later sold for $ 2.4 million? "It happens once in a lifetime" - you might say. And here and there.
A man named Michael Sparks in one of the commission shops Nashville acquired vintage candlestick, set of soups and pepper, and a yellowed sheet of paper on which was printed the US Declaration of Independence. Sparks believed that the document does not cost anything - most likely the usual modern reprint, so he paid the asking price, almost 2.5 dollars, and went home.
Having carefully studied bought Declaration Sparks began to doubt that the document does not represent any value. He fumbled on the Internet, has analyzed the information found, and soon realized that he had purchased one of the 200 official copies of the Declaration of Independence, signed and distributed by John Quincy Adams in 1820 Of the two hundred copies were found in good condition just 35 pieces; Sparks bought 36th.
It took a year to confirm the authenticity of the purchased Sparks document, and then he put it up for auction and sold for $ 477, 650.
4. "Magnolias on a gold velvet»
Once the employee die instrumental company, resident of Indiana, purchased for $ 30 a few pieces of used furniture and an old picture with flowers. When he brought home a new thing, then immediately began to hang on a wall painting acquired in order to close the hole in the wall, which calluses his eyes.
A few years later a man was playing a board game «Masterpiece» (in translation from English - a masterpiece), whose members are trying to outdo each other in the acquisition of paintings on the imaginary auction. To his surprise, he found that one of the game cards was depicted exactly the same picture that hung on his wall. He started looking for information on the Internet and found that picture, bought them a few years ago, very much like the style of the works of Martin Johnson Heda, American artist and naturalist, famous for his landscapes and still lifes.
He also contacted representatives of art galleries Edward Kennedy in Manhattan, which holds many works Kheda, and asked them to look at his picture. They agreed and confirmed that the work of art, closes the hole in the wall at his home, a previously unknown painting Heda called "Magnolias on a gold velvet." In 1999, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston purchased the painting for $ 1.25 million.
5. £ 2, 500000 & gt; £ 38, 000
Every Sunday afternoon for seven years, Mary Hannabay goes for a walk with a metal detector in hand. During this time, she did not find anything of value, but the essence was different: it is simply very much enjoyed this activity. One day in June 2009 during a regular Sunday walks her metal load, she bent down to dig out another copy for your collection in the form of ordinary coins or old nail, but very surprised when I got out of the earth square gold pendant engraved with a small image crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Maybe that's it, good luck!
After inspection of the British Museum pendant experts came to the conclusion that the thing certainly is "an important finding," but its market value is in the range £ 4, 000. They also decided not to buy it for my collection, so Mary had to go to Sotheby's. Auction house experts considered gold pendant is very expensive and was told that the minimum price of such gizmos is £ 250, 000, but it can be sold and £ 2.5 million due to the similarity with Middlhemskim jewelry, also found with a metal detector.
However, as the proverb says: "chickens before they are hatched." In July 2009, a gold pendant Sotsbi put up for auction. Naturally, expectations were high. However, things are starting price was only £ 30, 000, and did not rise above £ 38, 000 - for many it and sold.
6. "Who the * $ &%, this Jackson Pollock?»
In 1992, Teri Horton, a former truck driver, went to a local pawnshop to select for his girlfriend, dwells in a depressed state, some cool gift. She found a very unusual, but rather, as it seemed to her a terrible picture of pretty large size (168 x 119 cm) for only $ 8. Horton bargained $ 3 and went to her friend. That picture did not like, she found her ugly, and, moreover, a "masterpiece" does not fit into the door of her trailer. Teri had to take a picture home, she later put it at a garage sale. A local teacher who teaches art, saw the picture and suggested that this could well be the creation of Jackson Pollock. In response to Teri he heard only one phrase: "Who the * $ &%, this Jackson Pollock?»
Since that day, Teri Horton is desperately trying to prove that the painting, which it acquired in a thrift store, is nothing but a work of art lost a potential value of more than $ 100 million. However, due to the lack of any credible evidence supporting the authenticity of the painting and the so-called provenance (history of ownership of a work of art, its origin), many experts agree that the work belongs to another artist, who probably just inspired its creation the creation of Jackson Pollock. Teri even showed a picture of the medical examiner, who claims to have found her fingerprints match those that were found in the studio Pollock. But it also does not help. Picture so no one bought. But about Teri Horton bought her picture and the fight against the world of art took off in 2006, a documentary called "Who the * $ &%, this Jackson Pollock?".
1. Lose hammer, find treasure
In November 1992, a farmer who lived near the village Hoksn (Suffolk, UK), working in the field, lost a hammer. He decided to ask Eric Laus help him find a tool with a metal detector. When conducting searches Laus came across far more interesting things: 24 bronze coins, 14, 191 silver coins, 565 gold coins, plus hundreds of gold and silver spoons, jewelry and statues dating from the times of the Roman Empire.
As required by UK law, the so-called "treasure Hoksnskom" reported to the local authorities, who declared him a national treasure of the country. However, in such cases, the British government is obliged to pay a finder treasure its full value in monetary terms, this means that the farmer and Eric Laus divided between a pleasant surprise in the form of £ 1.75 million. Hoksnsky treasure is now in the British Museum, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
A hammer? It has never been found. Although he now needs someone ?!
2. The best friend of the girls - it's Arkansas
In 1924, Wesley Oley Bassum found a giant gemstone - diamond weighing 40 carats - near Murfreesboro (Arkansas, USA), at the site of what is now a state park "Diamond Crater." Perched atop kemberlitovoy tube (vertical geological body, formed as a result of an ancient underground volcanic explosion), the park - the only diamond mine in the world, which is open to the public. The principle of the park policy states: "Anything you find is yours, regardless of the value».
Bassum huge discovery, which was called "Diamond Uncle Sam", is the largest diamond ever found in North America. After the treatment, and weight of the diamond cut down to 12.42 carats, and in 1971 it was sold for $ 150, 000 (today the cost would be $ 800, 000). But it was not only a precious stone found in the lands of Arkansas.
In 1964, at the same place was found "Star of Murfreesboro" - diamond weighing 34 carats, later, in 1975 - "Amarillo Starlight" (16 carats), and another 31 years - "Diamond Rodin." But the gem of the park is considered a "diamond Straun-Wagner" was found in 1990. Its original weight was only 3 carats after cutting even less - 1.90 carat. Despite this relatively small size, "Diamond Straun-Wagner" stands out among the others in that American society gemmological called it the perfect jewel - the first diamond that has ever received such high praise.
Interestingly, in the park "Diamond Crater" on average, are two diamonds on a daily basis, of course, are not as big as the "Diamond Uncle Sam", but still ...
3. Declaration (financial) independence
Have you ever heard a story about a man who bought the painting at a garage sale for $ 4 and found inside its original US Declaration of Independence, later sold for $ 2.4 million? "It happens once in a lifetime" - you might say. And here and there.
A man named Michael Sparks in one of the commission shops Nashville acquired vintage candlestick, set of soups and pepper, and a yellowed sheet of paper on which was printed the US Declaration of Independence. Sparks believed that the document does not cost anything - most likely the usual modern reprint, so he paid the asking price, almost 2.5 dollars, and went home.
Having carefully studied bought Declaration Sparks began to doubt that the document does not represent any value. He fumbled on the Internet, has analyzed the information found, and soon realized that he had purchased one of the 200 official copies of the Declaration of Independence, signed and distributed by John Quincy Adams in 1820 Of the two hundred copies were found in good condition just 35 pieces; Sparks bought 36th.
It took a year to confirm the authenticity of the purchased Sparks document, and then he put it up for auction and sold for $ 477, 650.
4. "Magnolias on a gold velvet»
Once the employee die instrumental company, resident of Indiana, purchased for $ 30 a few pieces of used furniture and an old picture with flowers. When he brought home a new thing, then immediately began to hang on a wall painting acquired in order to close the hole in the wall, which calluses his eyes.
A few years later a man was playing a board game «Masterpiece» (in translation from English - a masterpiece), whose members are trying to outdo each other in the acquisition of paintings on the imaginary auction. To his surprise, he found that one of the game cards was depicted exactly the same picture that hung on his wall. He started looking for information on the Internet and found that picture, bought them a few years ago, very much like the style of the works of Martin Johnson Heda, American artist and naturalist, famous for his landscapes and still lifes.
He also contacted representatives of art galleries Edward Kennedy in Manhattan, which holds many works Kheda, and asked them to look at his picture. They agreed and confirmed that the work of art, closes the hole in the wall at his home, a previously unknown painting Heda called "Magnolias on a gold velvet." In 1999, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston purchased the painting for $ 1.25 million.
5. £ 2, 500000 & gt; £ 38, 000
Every Sunday afternoon for seven years, Mary Hannabay goes for a walk with a metal detector in hand. During this time, she did not find anything of value, but the essence was different: it is simply very much enjoyed this activity. One day in June 2009 during a regular Sunday walks her metal load, she bent down to dig out another copy for your collection in the form of ordinary coins or old nail, but very surprised when I got out of the earth square gold pendant engraved with a small image crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Maybe that's it, good luck!
After inspection of the British Museum pendant experts came to the conclusion that the thing certainly is "an important finding," but its market value is in the range £ 4, 000. They also decided not to buy it for my collection, so Mary had to go to Sotheby's. Auction house experts considered gold pendant is very expensive and was told that the minimum price of such gizmos is £ 250, 000, but it can be sold and £ 2.5 million due to the similarity with Middlhemskim jewelry, also found with a metal detector.
However, as the proverb says: "chickens before they are hatched." In July 2009, a gold pendant Sotsbi put up for auction. Naturally, expectations were high. However, things are starting price was only £ 30, 000, and did not rise above £ 38, 000 - for many it and sold.
6. "Who the * $ &%, this Jackson Pollock?»
In 1992, Teri Horton, a former truck driver, went to a local pawnshop to select for his girlfriend, dwells in a depressed state, some cool gift. She found a very unusual, but rather, as it seemed to her a terrible picture of pretty large size (168 x 119 cm) for only $ 8. Horton bargained $ 3 and went to her friend. That picture did not like, she found her ugly, and, moreover, a "masterpiece" does not fit into the door of her trailer. Teri had to take a picture home, she later put it at a garage sale. A local teacher who teaches art, saw the picture and suggested that this could well be the creation of Jackson Pollock. In response to Teri he heard only one phrase: "Who the * $ &%, this Jackson Pollock?»
Since that day, Teri Horton is desperately trying to prove that the painting, which it acquired in a thrift store, is nothing but a work of art lost a potential value of more than $ 100 million. However, due to the lack of any credible evidence supporting the authenticity of the painting and the so-called provenance (history of ownership of a work of art, its origin), many experts agree that the work belongs to another artist, who probably just inspired its creation the creation of Jackson Pollock. Teri even showed a picture of the medical examiner, who claims to have found her fingerprints match those that were found in the studio Pollock. But it also does not help. Picture so no one bought. But about Teri Horton bought her picture and the fight against the world of art took off in 2006, a documentary called "Who the * $ &%, this Jackson Pollock?".