A guest on the Antiques Roadshow was left utterly astonished after an expert revealed that his late father's coin collection was worth a small fortune. The emotional moment unfolded as the BBC programme visited Swansea's National Waterfront Museum.
A Surprising Inheritance
The visitor explained how he came to possess the coins after his father's passing. He recalled asking his dad about the contents of a mysterious black box, only to be told repeatedly: 'Never you mind, never you mind.' After his father died, he found the key and opened the box to discover his father's war medals and a case of coins.
'He was never a collector,' the guest noted, adding that he had brought the items to the show purely out of curiosity. His intention was always to keep them as a precious connection to his father.
The Jaw-Dropping Valuation
Expert John Foster assessed the collection, describing the coins as 'still a good investment'. He praised their condition and historical value, noting that gold and silver have performed exceptionally well in recent years.
'People are still collecting these, one, because they're beautiful and they're in my view going to go up as long as they're in this condition and you've got everything right which you have,' Foster explained before delivering the stunning news: 'So, £5,000 to £5,500.'
An Emotional Decision
The guest gasped in disbelief, exclaiming: 'Goodness me! I didn't think they'd be that much.' Despite the impressive valuation, he immediately declared that the coins would not be for sale.
'But no, I'm keeping them. Like I say, it was handed down to [his dad] so I'll do the same,' he stated emotionally, revealing plans to eventually pass the collection to his niece.
Foster wholeheartedly agreed with this sentimental decision, responding: 'I couldn't agree with you more because I wouldn't be selling this. Lovely to see and thank you for bringing them in.'
Another Titanic Valuation
The episode featured another remarkable discovery when a different guest brought in a shilling recovered from the Titanic wreck site. Accompanied by a letter and photograph of her ancestor, Reginald Hale, who perished on the ill-fated voyage, the item had what experts described as 'cast-iron provenance'.
The expert valued the historic coin at an astonishing £10,000 to £15,000, a figure that left both the guest and the audience amazed. The visitor described the valuation as 'incredible' after learning about the shilling's significant worth.
The Antiques Roadshow continues on Sunday at 8pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
