8 Priceless Treasures People Accidentally Threw Away
Have you ever wondered what treasures could be hiding in plain sight or buried deep in a trash bin? Over the years, countless stories have emerged of people discarding valuable items without realizing their worth. Let’s check some of these out below.
A Harry Potter First Edition
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Back when J.K. Rowling was still a struggling author, a journalist named Nigel Reynolds received a first-edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as a thank-you gift for interviewing her. As he was convinced the book wouldn’t gain traction, he threw it out. As of today, that same edition can fetch up to £50,000 at auction.
A $50 Million “Ugly” Painting
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Teri Horton, a retired truck driver, bought a peculiar-looking painting for $5 as a gag gift. She never imagined it was a lost Jackson Pollock. Authenticating it wasn’t easy, but once experts confirmed it was genuine, its value skyrocketed to $50 million. Not bad for something plucked from a thrift store.
A Historic Computer
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One of the first Apple 1 computers, hand-assembled by Steve Jobs himself, was brought to a California recycling center by someone unaware of its significance. It was valued at $200,000 and auctioned off, which left the recycling plant scrambling to find the donor to share the money.
A WWII Enigma Machine
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During WWII, the Enigma machine was particularly important for helping crack German military codes through cryptography. So, finding one tossed in the trash was utterly baffling. The historic device, valued at over $10,000, was rescued from a recycling plant. Still, it’s unclear why anyone thought it belonged there in the first place.
A Million-Dollar Ticket
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An 83-year-old Californian spent his days digging through trash cans, hoping for a miracle—and found one in the form of a discarded $1 million lottery ticket. While legal disputes with another claimant reduced his winnings, he still pocketed an impressive and potentially life-changing $140,000.
A Forgotten Van Gogh
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A Norwegian man discovered a painting collecting dust in his attic and assumed it was just a cheap reproduction. However, after years of neglect, experts revealed it was an authentic Van Gogh, painted during the same period as his famous Sunflowers. The rediscovery made headlines worldwide.
The Declaration of Independence in a Frame
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At a Pennsylvania flea market, a man bought a painting simply because he liked the frame. When he took it apart, he discovered one of the only 25 original copies of the Declaration of Independence tucked inside. This piece of American history then sold for a staggering $2.48 million.
$280 Million in Lost Bitcoins
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James Howells is an IT professional from Wales who accidentally threw away an old hard drive while cleaning his office. Unfortunately, it held 7,500 bitcoins—a fortune that would now be worth $280 million. Despite offering a significant share of the profits to his city council in exchange for a landfill search, permission was denied, and the hard drive remains lost.
A Priceless Violin
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When his wife’s own violin broke down, An American man found one in the trash he could use for parts. Luckily, he had it appraised on an episode of the PBS show “Antiques Roadshow.” It turns out, the violin was created by Giuseppe Pedrazzini, an Italian violin-making legend. Once restored, it was valued at a staggering $50,000.
Mayan Artifacts
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As a junk removal specialist, Nick DiMola was hired to clear out a SoHo apartment in 2009. While on the job, he uncovered ancient Mayan artifacts in a cardboard barrel. The jugs, bowls, and figurines dated back to 300 B.C.E. and were valued at $16,500. For DiMola, it was just another day’s work that turned into a brush with history.
A Trove of Diamonds
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While moving offices, employees at a Manhattan jewelry store accidentally threw out boxes containing $5 million worth of diamonds. A security guard later discovered the stash and tried to sell it. His attempt was short-lived, as surveillance footage revealed his actions and led to the gems’ recovery.
Platinum
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In the 18th century, Spain dumped confiscated platinum into the ocean to combat counterfeit coins. It was pretty much worthless then; but centuries later, platinum itself became one of the most valuable metals and is used in everything from jewelry to industrial applications. The decision seems almost laughable now–but it’s easy to be wise after the fact.
Modern Art
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A cleaner in an Italian art gallery threw away what she thought were two garbage bins. Turns out, they were part of a $15,000 modern art installation by Paul Branca. The artist’s message about waste and the environment suddenly had a painfully ironic twist.
Life Savings
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This story is particularly heart wrenching. One elderly woman in West Sussex accidentally tossed a plastic bag containing £12,000 into her garbage bin. By the time the mistake was realized, the landfill machinery had buried it under mountains of waste. The loss was a lifetime’s hard work gone in an instant.
A Million-Dollar Masterpiece
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Elizabeth Gibson was out for a walk in Manhattan when a vibrant painting leaning against a trash pile caught her eye. Intrigued, she took it home. Months later, she discovered it was Three People, a stolen work by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo worth $1 million. After returning it to its rightful owners, she not only gained recognition but also a generous reward.