By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Since Tuesday, representatives from the Ohio Valley Gold & Silver Refinery have been inspecting — and paying money for — all manner of treasures collected by local residents.

Dubbed the “Treasure Hunters Roadshow,” the group has occupied a meeting room at the Suburban Extended Stay hotel in LaPlace, where locals have brought the experts all manner of items for inspection and appraisal.

“We buy everything,” said Manager Tony Prescott.

A display set up in the room showed off some of the group’s finds. It held items ranging from vintage toys to a German fire helmet to Japanese samurai swords. One of their main specialties, however, is rare and valuable coins. Prescott said they recently paid $9,000 for a sack of rare quarters.

Sometimes value can be found in the most unlikely of places. The group paid $1,000 for a gas bill from 1959. What made this scrap of paper so valuable? On the back side of the bill was printed the name “John F. Kennedy.” The bill was issued one year before he was elected president of the United States.

While most people will not have such an artifact in their possession, there is one thing many people have that the group buys regularly.

“If they want a guaranteed check, any kind of gold,” said Prescott.

Anyone wishing to have items appraised still has one more chance to do so. The group will be at the hotel today from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Wait times vary depending on the crowd, but Prescott said they generally range from 15 to 30 minutes. After someone’s number is called, they are directed to an appraiser who will inspect the items and determine their value. The group issues checks for the items on the spot.

According to Prescott, the last time the group was in town they issued about $50,000 in checks.