By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – An international collectors group is making its way to St. John Parish next week to find out what rare and unusual items may be hidden in the community.

Residents of LaPlace and surrounding areas will get the chance to find out the actual worth of an old painting, baseball card, collectible coin or other family heirloom stored away in the attic for years by bringing it for examination by the Treasure Hunters Roadshow.

Matthew Enright, media relations representative for the roadshow, said the organization, based out of Springfield, Ill., has made visits across the United States and Europe and works to connect people in possession of rare finds to collectors willing to buy them.

“Most of those who participate are coming to sell whatever artifact they may have,” Enright said. “Others just want some piece of mind regarding the actual worth of what they have.”

Enright explained that the group provides an appraisal on the item by way of a database that compiles previous sales figures, auction house records and just general worth to collectors. They then come back with an estimated fair market value of the piece and determine whether the owner is willing to sell.

“Once we get the final value of the piece, it is up to the owner to decide what they want to do next,” Enright said. “The vast majority of those who come in to get an appraisal are looking to sell. We act as a middle man to help them find a collector.”

Enright said when a collector makes an offer to the owner, the owner gets paid for their piece right on the spot. He said the items don’t even need to be old to be valuable – just unusual and in good condition.

“It has to do with rarity of the item,” he said. “It could be coins from 2000. A recent client invested in new gold coins in early 2000 and paid $1,200 a piece for four high grade coins. He ended up walking out with a check for almost $40,000.”

Enright said most participants typically bring in old gold jewelry, watches and coins due to the high value of gold on the open market, but the groups representatives will take a look at just about anything.

“We’ve appraised old toys, antique dolls, model trains, musical instruments and war artifacts,” Enright said. “People just don’t realize what they have stored away at home.”

The roadshow will operate out of the Best Western Hotel, 4289 Main St., LaPlace. Representatives will be on hand Tuesday, July 20 through Friday, July 23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.