Additional Coverage:
- ‘Pawn Stars’ guest sells a fake Napolean letter to Corey Harrison — and it went as expected (marketrealist.com)
On a past episode of “Pawn Stars,” Corey Harrison’s eagerness for a historical find led to a costly lesson. A seller arrived at the shop with what they claimed was an original letter penned and signed by Napoleon Bonaparte, complete with a wax seal and Certificate of Authenticity. Intrigued, Corey bypassed the usual expert consultation and negotiated a price of $2,000, believing he’d snagged a valuable piece of history.
His excitement, however, was short-lived. While Corey’s father and grandfather acknowledged the potential value of a genuine Napoleon letter, they expressed skepticism about this one. Rick, Corey’s father, suggested having the letter authenticated by a history professor at UNLV.
Despite some grumbling, a crutch-bound Corey met with Professor Gregory Brown, a specialist in the French Revolution. Professor Brown confirmed the historical significance of the Battle of Austerlitz, the subject of the letter, and the value of an original copy. Unfortunately for Corey, the professor declared the document a replica.
Corey returned to the shop, defeated, to face his family’s inevitable teasing. Rick, ever the pragmatist, reminded Corey that learning from mistakes is part of the business and demanded a refund of his $2,000. The incident served as a reminder that even seasoned pawnbrokers can fall prey to the allure of a seemingly good deal, proving that sometimes, it pays to be less trusting and more cautious.