Claudia McDonald smiled and laughed Tuesday afternoon as the Treasure Hunters Roadshow cashier handed her a check for $825. “I’m glad I came in!” said McDonald. “I really need the money.” McDonald who received about $75 more than she anticipated for a gold coin minted in 1986 was one of about 130 people whoe tested the market Tuesday for their antiques and collectibles at the Treasure Hunters Roadshow. The opportunity runs through Saturday at the Suites Hotel at the Waterfront Plaza.
McDonald who got estimates of about $750 from pawn shops inherited the coin with a face value of $50 from her aunt and will use the money to help pay bills that are difficult to cover because disabilities limit the single woman’s ability to work. “I was a little leery about receiving a check because of all the companies having checks bounce, but they have a very smooth process and I had no problems.” While McDonald had the brightest reaction, a Hibbing man reeled in Tuesdays biggest paycheck. More than 4,000 silver coins, with a face value of $1,000 netted the man about $8,900. “We only see that amount once every month or two months,” said Tony Enright, who manages Roadshows in the U.S. and Canada for 39 weeks during the year.
Enright said the Roadshow, which searches databases and contacts collectors to gauge interest in items, typically attracts about 60 to 70 visitors the first day, but with Tuesdays turnout in Duluth double the usual, he said the number of visitors by the end of the week could reach 700 or even a 1000
