A Prince Fan’s $50,000 Dream on Pawn Stars: Did It Come True?

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Prince Tambourine Fails to Sell on ‘Pawn Stars’ After $50,000 Demand Meets Expert Reality Check

A recent episode of History Channel’s “Pawn Stars” saw a seller hoping to strike gold with a piece of rock and roll history – a tambourine purportedly owned, used, and signed by music icon Prince. However, his ambitious asking price of $50,000 for the vintage instrument quickly hit a sour note when experts stepped in, revealing a much different market value.

Justin, the seller, brought the unique item to Rick Harrison at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. He claimed the tambourine was used by Prince during his legendary 1985 “Purple Rain” tour, having been a cherished possession of his wife since she was 12.

“My wife has had it since she was 12. We’ve had it hidden away in a cabinet,” Justin explained, expressing confidence in its value.

Harrison, acknowledging Prince’s enduring legacy, noted, “Everybody was shocked when they found out Prince was dead. He’s one of those people who’ll still be remembered 50 years from now.”

To authenticate the item, Justin presented paperwork from Thomas Race, a sound engineer from one of Prince’s concerts. However, the document was a Xerox copy, raising Harrison’s initial concerns. Despite this, Justin confidently stated his asking price: a hefty $50,000.

Skeptical of the high demand, Harrison promptly consulted Warwick, an expert on musical instruments, via video call. Warwick confirmed the tambourine’s authenticity, dating it to Prince’s ‘Purple Rain Tour’.

However, he quickly tempered Justin’s expectations, stating that similar unsigned instruments had previously sold for $5,000 to $6,000 at auction. “But it wasn’t signed.

So at auction, yours may get as much as $10,000,” Warwick advised, placing a much lower ceiling on its potential value.

To verify the crucial signature, Harrison then called in autograph expert Steve Grad. Grad acknowledged the rarity of Prince’s autograph, noting, “The thing about Prince is that he was hard to get close to, so his autograph is tough to acquire.

A lot of warning signs go up when I see one, because there aren’t many out there.” After a thorough examination and comparison with known samples, Grad delivered good news: the signature was indeed legitimate.

He independently appraised the item at $10,000, aligning with Warwick’s estimate.

Armed with expert valuations, Harrison began negotiations. “Okay, so $50,000 is not going to happen.

What’s your best price?” he asked Justin.

The seller, sticking to his conviction, declared he wouldn’t accept less than $10,000. Harrison countered, explaining he needed to make a profit, and offered $6,000.

Unable to bridge the $4,000 gap, the deal ultimately fell through.

As the transaction dissolved, Justin shared a humorous, yet poignant, final thought: “Apparently, I am not going to be partying like it’s 1999.” The episode served as a reminder that while memorabilia can hold immense sentimental value, market prices are often a stark reality check.


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