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'The Great Big American Auction': Old Money Becomes Big Money (VIDEO)

by Jason Hughes, posted Dec 9th 2011 2:00AM

'The Great Big American Auction' specialTy Pennington is looking to bring auctions to prime time with the special 'The Great Big American Auction' (Thu., 10PM ET on ABC). But an auction is only as good as the pieces it fetches, and the best pieces are often discovered purely by accident.

Felicia Batey came in with a ten-cent purchase from her grandmother of an old frame with a pair of photographs in it. It was what was hidden inside, behind the pictures, that was the true surprise. In an envelope was a $100 bill from 1880.

"This is an amazingly rare note," Batey was told by the show's expert. "As a matter of fact, there are only 16 of these known. This is number 17."

At auction, that ten-cent purchase by her grandmother netted Batey $26,000. Those are the kinds of discoveries and stories that generate excitement among viewers and could sustain a show like this.

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docmca

"But an auction is only as good as the pieces it fetches," "Pieces"? Uh...how about "price". Really sad how journalism and the quality of writing/editing has deteriorated -- and from a news/information company. Hey...Jason Hughes...I'd be embarrassed having my name associated with this...

December 09 2011 at 4:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to docmca's comment
April

Actually an auction lives and dies on the "pieces" it has for auction... as in the antique "pieces" that are available for auction. Regardless of the price of the sale, if there is no "piece" for sale then there is no auction. "Piece" is a common term for item in the auction world.

December 09 2011 at 10:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Billy

As a long time collector of coins and paper money I think she got a decent price for this piece. I would not have sold now, not in this recession. The prices of everything are down. Unless she really needed the $$ I would have held it.

December 09 2011 at 12:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ccordoro

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE FELLOW WHO SAID IF THERE ARE ONLY 17 KNOWN TO EXIST IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORTH A LOT MORE THEN $26,000. WELL IN TODAYS WORLD ITS AT LEAST A DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW CAR..

December 09 2011 at 12:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dmoongo

Funny. A $100 bill from 1880 is worth $26,000 and a $100 bill from today is worth about $26.

December 09 2011 at 12:06 PM Report abuse +7 rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Dmoongo's comment
ixigabeixi

Did anyone else notice that the winning bidder was holding #666 and seemed expressionless?

December 09 2011 at 12:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to ixigabeixi's comment
JoyA

funny... I noticed the expression, but had to watch it again to see that 666... a little erie

December 09 2011 at 12:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
deodile

If this is true the bill would be worth a lot more in a private auction. Honestly I don't think I would of even sold it. So it just sounds pretty fishy. The bill is #17 to be know the person who purchased the note was probably working for someone who knows how much it is really worth and already has a bidder paying a higher price.

December 09 2011 at 11:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ntweety7777

I liked the Shelby that sold for 110,000.00. Sweet car

December 09 2011 at 11:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
davehyannis

ONLY 26K FOR ONE OF NOW 17? SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ANOTHER ZERO THERE. A COUPLE OF MORE AUCTIONS WILL PROVE THIS .

December 09 2011 at 11:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to davehyannis's comment
MICHELLE

Depends on its condition.

December 09 2011 at 11:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ww5022

That is a lot of money for a paper denomination. They are not worth as much as coins, no matter how rare. Not as many collectors or demand.

December 09 2011 at 11:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pinexcorp

Dont believe any reality show, including auctionion shows. It is all staged.

December 09 2011 at 11:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to pinexcorp's comment
MICHELLE

You sound jealous. Most of us are smart enough to know that we don't see everything that was taped. Naturally, they're only going to show the highlights.

December 09 2011 at 11:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pete

wow only 17 in the world plus 100 dollar note back then you were rich

December 09 2011 at 10:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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