valuable

In the late 1980s, a woman browsing a London flea market picked up what she thought was just a fun, costume-style ring. She paid $15 for it, and wore it constantly for nearly 30 years—never imagining the truth (and the unimaginable value) glittering right under her nose.

Thrift stores see odd donations all the time, but staff at a shop in Chilliwack, British Columbia didn’t think much of a small bundle of metal pieces priced at around $20. They looked old, maybe decorative, maybe just miscellaneous hardware. Nothing suggested a major historical mystery—at least not yet.

Skateboards from the past aren’t just rad relics—they’re serious collectibles. From 1960s sidewalk surfers to iconic 1980s pro models, certain boards now fetch thousands.

Whether it's a first edition, an author’s signature, or a famously banned text, some rare books can sell for $100,000 or more at auction.

A New York family bought a small ceramic bowl for $3 at a yard sale, only to learn it was a 1,000-year-old Chinese artifact from the Song Dynasty that later sold at Sotheby’s for $2.2 million.

An Ohio woman scored big after buying a $2.99 Goodwill painting that turned out to be an authentic Johann Berthelsen masterpiece worth nearly $3,000 — a true thrift store treasure story that proves hidden gems still exist.