Viewers of Pawn Stars see Rick and the Gold Silver Pawnshop staff indulge in purchasing high-value and historically significant items. This isn’t a typical pawn business since they often come across extremely valuable pieces. Although this shipwreck treasure may not be their most costly acquisition, its final price tag is still quite significant.

(Photo credit: Oliver Strewe via Getty Images)

In the second season of Pawn Stars, a gentleman named Matt came into the store carrying a small gold bar. He explained to Rick and Corey that his grandmother had passed away a few months prior, and that while cleaning out her home with his siblings, they came across the gold and decided to have it appraised. Matt’s intention was to sell it and split the proceeds with his family. However, he was unaware of the historical significance of the item.

Regular viewers of Pawn Stars know that Rick usually calls in an expert almost immediately to appraise items that come into the store. However, he didn’t need much help with this item initially. After picking up the bar, Rick quickly determined that it was indeed made of gold. He informed Matt that the bar was valued at approximately $24,000. In a separate scene, Rick explained, “When you’ve been a pawnbroker as long as I have, you know real gold when you see it. And, judging by the weight of it, there’s a lot of it.”

While discussing the bar, Rick noticed what looked like coral growing on the underside of the bar. This made him think that the bar came from a shipwreck. Matt said that his grandfather spent some time in the Caribbean. However, he didn’t know if that’s where the bar came from. This is when the Pawn Stars boss called in an expert.