Everyone’s heard a story about a family friend or distant relative finding an antique in their grandparent’s attic or coming across expensive jewelry for cheap at a thrift store. Those stories may or may not be true, but valuable coins could be hiding anywhere. And if you know what you’re looking at, your discovery could turn into a big pay day. Hawaiian Island Stamp & Coin in Honolulu sees countless old coins every year. They come from all over, and some were found in the most unexpected places.

3 Unusual Discoveries of Valuable Coins 

1. Child’s Toy Box

When a 35-year-old British man set about building his son a toy box like the one he had as a child, he remembered one of his favorite games to play—pirate treasure. The man’s grandfather used to travel the world, and when he came to visit, he’d gift his grandson with interesting-looking coins to use in his games of make-believe. When the man dug out the coins 30 years later to give to his own son, one looked special. He had it appraised, and it turned out to be one of only five “lost coins” made from Spanish gold captured in 1703. He sold it for $300,000.

2. Along the Trail

A woman and her friend were exploring the mountainous region of northern Israel when something metallic caught her attention. She bent down to pick it up and found herself holding a 2,000-year-old Roman gold coin. After having the obviously valuable coin appraised, she learned it was one of only two presently known to exist.

3. Behind a Wall

A contractor remodeling an 82-year-old home on the shores of Lake Erie stumbled upon hidden treasure inside two locked metal boxes built inside a wall. Inside the boxes he found $182,000 worth of Depression-era currency along with letters detailing who the coins belonged to. The money eventually found its way to its original owners.

Drawers in antique desks, old piggy banks, forgotten safety deposit boxes—old coins could show up nearly anywhere you look—it’s not as uncommon as you think. If luck is with you and you think you have found something special, take it to a trusted coin appraiser. Call Hawaiian Island Stamp & Coin at (808) 531-6251 or visit their website to learn more about valuable coins.