Garage Sale Sterling
Stopped by a garage sale and saw a large jewelry stand. Lots of rings, pendants, and earrings. A quarter of it was marked as sterling on the little bags they were in. 1/3 of it all was stamped 925 or sterling the rest just whatever pot metal etc.
Just was grabbing anything that looked like it was properly marked as silver. Some unpriced some priced as probably reasonable for silver jewelry. Picked through it all even with $10 for a ring or $3 for earrings; prices that were on the edge if there was going to be any margin judging from the weight in grams. I plopped it all down at the ladies at their checkout table and said I was looking for a deal on the lot and I'm going to grab my magnet to check a few things.
There was one ring that was marked 925 on the inside but it was suspiciously shiny like it was lacquered and sure enough that was the one item that the magnet picked up. I went and put that back and the ladies had totaled the prices on the bags at $69 and told the head lady I said I was looking for a deal.
In my head I was thinking hmm I'd offer $40 or $45 and id still might be behind with scrap price and silver dropping. The Lady shot back $25 for the lot. I handed it over nice and slow and casually perused the free bin as I walked away. Found a tie bar marked sterling at the bottom to add to the bag they gave me.
Wished them a wonderful day and left.
Deals are out there this was my first real big silver find.