Additional Coverage:
- ‘Pawn Stars’ boss Rick Harrison pays a lot more than what guest wanted for Super Bowl pendants (marketrealist.com)
Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison Pays Premium for Historic Super Bowl Pendants
Las Vegas, NV – “Pawn Stars” proprietor Rick Harrison, often celebrated for his ability to unearth vintage treasures at favorable prices, recently demonstrated his willingness to pay a premium when presented with truly exceptional items. Such was the case during a recent episode when a guest brought in two rare pendants commemorating the first two Super Bowl contests, prompting Harrison to call in an expert and ultimately shell out significantly more than the initial asking price.
The pendants, representing Super Bowl I (1966) and Super Bowl II (1967), carried significant historical weight. These inaugural events, originally known as the AFL-NFL World Championship Games, marked a pivotal moment in American sports as the rival National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) clashed before their eventual merger. Both games saw the Green Bay Packers emerge victorious, first against the Kansas City Chiefs and then against the Oakland Raiders.
The guest, a longtime fan of the Green Bay Packers, had held onto these unique pieces of sports history for decades. However, with both he and his wife now retired, they sought to convert the cherished memorabilia into much-needed funds. His initial offer for the pendants was $500 each.
Believing the items held greater value, Harrison enlisted the expertise of Jeremy Brown, owner of Ultimate Sports, Cards & Memorabilia. Brown quickly confirmed the pendants’ rarity, noting that these were not the championship rings awarded to winning players. Instead, they were special pieces commissioned by Jostens at the request of the teams, intended for individuals not typically receiving a ring, such as family members of players or team staff.
Despite some minor issues—the 1966 pendant had a replaced central stone, and the 1967 pendant showed some damage—Brown’s assessment was encouraging. He estimated each pendant could fetch around $1,000 on the open market, doubling the guest’s original expectation.
While Harrison had hoped for an even higher valuation, the expert’s appraisal meant a better payday for the seller. The guest, now armed with the expert’s valuation, adjusted his asking price to $1,500 per pendant. After a brief negotiation, Harrison agreed to a final price of $1,400 per pendant, striking a deal that saw the guest walk away with $2,800 for his historic pieces.