Pawn Stars Pays Peanuts for Priceless Fossil

Additional Coverage:

Prehistoric Pawn: Big Deals for Ancient Bones on “Pawn Stars”

Ancient relics occasionally surface on the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars,” but two episodes featuring prehistoric fossils proved particularly memorable.

In one episode, a seller presented a fossilized whale vertebra, a family heirloom passed down from her marine biologist grandfather. Hoping for $600, she watched as Rick Harrison and Chumlee, unsure of its value, consulted expert Andre Lujan.

Lujan identified the vertebra and estimated its age at a staggering 5.3 million years old, but valued it at only $200. After some back-and-forth, Harrison secured the fossil for a mere $130—a “sweet” deal for the pawnbroker.

Another episode showcased an even more impressive find: a dinosaur leg bone. The seller, requesting $40,000, hoped the fossil would fund a makeover and a Hawaiian vacation.

Harrison, wary of potential fakes, again called in expert Andre Lujan, now executive director of the Texas Through Time Museum. Lujan identified the fossil as a Camarasaurus leg and, despite discovering plaster casts of the toes, confirmed the authenticity of key bones – the humerus, radius, and ulna.

He appraised the fossil at $25,000. Following negotiations, Harrison purchased the dinosaur leg for $18,000, exclaiming, “I just bought a dinosaur leg.

Guess there is a first for everything!” Although a significant sum, it wasn’t the first time Harrison acquired a unique piece of history.

From multi-million-year-old fossils to dinosaur skulls, “Pawn Stars” continues to unearth fascinating glimpses into the past.


Read More About This Story:

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS