The Most Expensive Item From Pawn Stars Season 13 Isn’t What You Think

Anyone who watches “Pawn Stars” knows the best part of the show is when shop owner Rick Harrison starts to sweat over a big deal. Season 13 saw no exception to this, as some very expensive items made their way through the doors of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas.

In this season, Rick and his employees made pricey deals on a handful of rare items. Corey and Chumlee spent $30,000 on an Egyptian mummy cartonnage from the 2nd century A.D., possibly one of the oldest items ever brought into the shop. On top of that, a man brought in two currency notes from the late 1800s on two separate occasions, earning him $22,000 and $35,000. Although that may be the richest man coming out of Season 13, it’s not the most costly item. Surprisingly, this item might be even smaller than a banknote.

So what was the most expensive item from Season 13 of “Pawn Stars”?

When a man brought in three original postcards by Jean-Michel Basquiat, he was hoping to break Rick’s bank. At first, the man asks for $38,000 each, for a total of $114,000. This seems high, but Basquait is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, playing a significant role in the Neo-expressionism movement. If these postcards are legitimate, he may have a case for such a high asking price.

Rick calls in an expert, who surprisingly brings in reinforcements, a personal friend of Basquiat’s. The two experts carefully examine the postcards and reveal they are all legitimate and estimated at $50,000 apiece. Rick explains the risk involved and knocks the price all the way down to $50,000 for all of them. Although the owner tries again at $30,000 apiece, Rick holds his ground and offers $50,000 for them all. The owner accepts the offer, not realizing he could have tripled his money by taking it to an auction.

Throughout the 17 seasons of Pawn Stars, some expensive items have come and gone through The World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, especially in season 11. That season saw some particularly unique and costly items appear in the Las Vegas shop. Corey, for example, spent over $3,000 on a “line drive” pinball machine and later paid $27,000 on an Ultra4 Race Car.

Owner Rick Harrison made some expensive purchases as well. In season 11, he bought a pair of Norman Rockwell lithographs for $5,000, and then he spent $32,250 for three Old King Cole Mickey Mouse store displays. Surprisingly, though, none of these items were the most expensive from the season. In fact, the most expensive item bought in season 11 is smaller than anything in the aforementioned group.

What could the guys from Pawn Stars have possibly purchased that is both more expensive and smaller than a sports car?

The most expensive item bought in season 11 of Pawn Stars is also probably one of the most historically significant artifacts the pawn shop has ever seen. We’re talking about the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, otherwise known as the Jay Treaty. This was the first treaty between the United States and another country, and it would establish a foundation for the United States’ national economy. The book is already a historical artifact, but what makes it even more unique is that this particular one is Thomas Jefferson’s copy.

Before the guys of Pawn Stars bring in an expert to admire and appraise the item, the owner asks for $75,000. After verification from the expert, it comes to light that this book is, indeed, worth what the owner initially asked for. But Rick has to make a profit, so he offers $40,000. After some back and forth, Rick nervously purchases the copy of the treaty for $50,000, easily making this the most expensive item from Pawn Stars season 11.