Roadshow uncovers treasures buried in plain sight

  For some Yumans there could be a gold mine gathering dust in the bureau drawer, but it might require a professional eye to spot it.

  "Anything gold, anything old, we'll take a look at it," said Matthew Enright, public relations director of the International Collectors Association.

  The Illinois-based company has made its second visit to Yuma in six months as part of 300-city tour for its Treasure Hunters Roadshow wrapping up today at the Cocopah Resort, 15268 S. Avenue B, in Somerton. Next week the roadshow stops in Tucson.

  Gold prices are going through the roof and people are cashing in, Enright noted. It is selling for more than $900 an ounce, the highest in 25 years, and only three times in history has it reached $1,000, he added.

  "We're not the state fair but probably the next best thing. It's an exciting event because you'll see rare items you'll never see again in a lifetime."

  The roadshow, began in 1996, focuses on items produced before World War II. They especially like Lionel trains, Disney memorabilia, gold or silver jewelry.

  And do not forget those coin collections, Enright stressed: Washington quarters minted from 1964 or earlier, Mercury dimes, Kennedy or working liberty half-dollars, and Morgan or peace silver dollars.

  The roadshow is not an auction but represents a database of over 6,000 collectors it contacts daily online or by mobile phone, said Paul Dichraff, roadshow manager of the Southwest region.

  Its service is a lot better than trying to sell on eBay, he said, because after paying all the required fees, the seller could lose 40 to 50 percent value of the item.

  There are four appraisers visiting the Cocopah Resort. They will see 500 to 700 sellers this week and pay out $150,000 to $200,000, writing checks on the spot.

  Yet one of the beautiful things about it is they will tell a seller to hang on to an item if they do not need money right away. Barbie dolls, as an example, previously fetched $50 for any condition but now they need to be in pristine shape and still in the original package to get that price.

  "That's why we make a lot of friends because we give them the straight scoop," Dichraff said. "It doesn't make any sense to lowball a seller because it would cut our fee. So we're on the same team."

  And there is a growing number of repeat sellers once they find out certain items do have value. Many do not know that dental gold can be sold. One widow had her husband's dental plate stashed a way in a jewelry box afraid to touch it, but she walked out of the roadshow with $347 and she was very happy, Dichraff said.

  "People lose one earring and don't know what to do with the remaining mate. Or they'll have a Swiss gold watch that no longer works but it cost more to repair than to buy a new one. So they sell us their damaged pieces so they can buy new jewelry."

  The roadshow will buy 70 percent of the items it sees. But a number of people will have items appraised just to learn their value or in the case of some antiques, just what function it served.

  "We're doing gold and silver, while Civil War memorabilia, Gibson guitars and the pre-1923 large dollar bills are big with us," Dichraff said. "If you have jewelry or antiques, there's never been a better time to sell. Everything is high."

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William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.