[ConservativeStatement]

The acceptance of $12k seems questionable in retrospect if she knew the real value.

[2banana]

Who melts down valuable old gold coins just for their gold?

Unless you are trying to hide something...

[crz]

Well, since the niece pilfered them, who committed the crime?

[DoodleDawg]

I wish someone would start a “Pawn Stars Channel”. Then maybe they’d put some history shows on it.

[PubliusMM]

According to the store’s spokesperson, there was concern over the claimed value, so they had the cases opened and the coins appraised (at least some of them). They are claiming that the coins were not as valuable as the owner believed (or chose to use for the complaint).
It does not appear, on the surface, that the store did anything in contravention of the law. Sales at pawn shops generally include a statement from the offeror that he/she is the legal owner of the goods offered and the value offered in exchange by the shop is clear and accepted.
Seems to me the owner has an issue with the actual thief...
And, the store has an issue with a fraudulent customer.

[mmichaels1970]

Nevada law says pawn stores must hold pawned items for 30 to 90 days in the event the original owner wants to buy them back. Coins are not subject to that particular law, though.

Then why did they decide to mention it in this article?

Also, I believe there is a difference between "pawn" (loan) and "sold". From this article, it appears she sold them. Even if coins were "subject to that particular law", her selling them would also give them the legal right to melt them down, from what I understand.

[latina4dubya]

The acceptance of $12k seems questionable in retrospect if she knew the real value.

people pawn their stuff because they need dinero pronto...

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

If they didn’t have a show would this story even make the local news? $ound$ like he’$ looking for deep pocket$.

[Orangedog]

Their McReality show is a fraud anyway so why should something that looks shady be a big shock?

[GBA]

It would depend on what sort of coins they were.

If they are the bullion coins currently being minted and sold since 1986, then their value is essentially the gold alone. Same for silver bullion coins and bars.

If they are the coins once used and circulated as currency, their value is both their metal content and their numismatic value based on the year minted and their condition.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

The gold coin was a 1903 $20, the rest were 1880's silver coins.

IIRC, the expert ID'd the gold coin as an Omega Man fake.

[Hatteras]

oops...

[Starstruck]

From the article it appears the coins were brought in at different times. It also appears like all the coins may not have been melted down. Evidently they didn’t trust the grader. The uncle probably bought these things over priced.

[TexasFreeper2009]

Anyone that pawns ANYTHING at that store is an idiot.

And the store owners are COUNTING on idiots desperate for a few bucks which is why they placed their pawn shop right in the ghetto not far from the casinos.

[Darren McCarty]

History Channel? Must be aliens.

[circlecity]

Not all gold “coins” are or ever were currency. There are lots of “commemerative” coins created to sell for more than the value of the gold. (ie. Get your rare commemorative Elvis coin in pure 14 carat gold!). If that’s what these were than the items were probably worth no more than the gold contained in them. The “melt value”.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Good thing she didn’t sell them to Hardcore Pawn.
They would have ended up as gold teeth for about a hundred of their customers.