Lecture Notes on Historical Artifacts

Overview of Historical Item Discoveries

• Discussion about an old coin found by a family member.
• Initial thoughts on its value: possibly an expensive historical coin from the era of George III.

Captain James Cook

• Coin relates to Captain Cook and his ships, Resolution and Adventure.
• Cook's significance:
  • Known for discovering Hawaii and mapping various Pacific islands.
  • Developed advanced navigation techniques during his voyages.
  • His maps of Newfoundland were in use until the 20th century.

Coin Details

• Possibly a medal related to Captain Cook's voyages.
• High detail for a medal from that period, raising questions about its authenticity.
• Expert to evaluate the item for actual worth.
• Estimated auction value: $7,500 to $8,500.
• Importance of pedigree: handled by Cook himself, valued by collectors due to its historical nature.

Elephant Bird Egg

• Description of a rare elephant bird egg brought to the pawn shop.
• Seller looking for around $2,500.
• Background on elephant birds:
  • Largest birds to ever exist, similar to ostriches but much heavier.
• Eggs can be faked; importance of verification by a paleontologist.
• Expert confirms it's a composite egg, evaluated at approximately $5,900.

Sale Negotiation

• Initial asking price from seller: $2,500.
• Negotiated sale price: $2,800 after expert valuation.

Olympic Boxing Ticket Stub

• Item: 1984 Olympic boxing ticket signed by Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.
• Seller's story: personal connection and memories from the Olympics.
• Initial asking price: $500.
• Expert believes it could be worth $2,000 due to rarity and historical significance.

Sale Negotiation

• Final offer from pawn shop: $1,000.
• Seller decides to keep the ticket, considering its sentimental value.

World War II Ammunition Cart

• Description of a rusted World War II ammunition handcart found by the seller.
• Seller's perspective: thought it could be a unique decorative item.
• Expert evaluation shows historical importance and potential value of $1,500 to $2,000 in current condition.

Restoration Considerations

• Restoration costs estimated at $1,200 to $1,400.
• Seller agrees to sell the cart for $400 without restoration.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Item

• Item: Letter and photo of Longfellow.
• Seller's history of purchase at auction for $20.
• Expert confirms authenticity, with a potential value of around $1,500.

Final Negotiation

• Initial asking price: $300.
• Final agreed price: $700 after expert verification.

Key Takeaways

• Historical artifacts can have significant value based on provenance and expert validation.
• Importance of expert opinions in determining authenticity and value.
• Emotional and historical narratives can enhance the value of collectibles.