Pawn Stars Rick Harrison refuses to buy creepy item due to its chilling history
Topics: Film and TV, History, Money, US News
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: A+E Networks
Topics: Film and TV, History, Money, US News
Rick Harrison once declined to purchase a ‘creepy’ item from a Pawn Stars customer after being convinced to look inside, despite his better judgement.
Pawn Stars, the beloved reality television series, has been a History staple since debuting on the channel in July 2009.
The long-running programme sees staff at the family-run Gold & Silver Pawn Shop interacting with customers by purchasing, selling and bartering over vintage goods.
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While most negotiations usually go off without a hitch, one classic moment saw Pawn Stars’ Rick, 59, refusing to buy a Fisk Cast-Iron Casket from a very stubborn customer.
This item, known also as the Fisk Mummy, was originally patented in 1848 by Almond Dunbar Fisk and manufactured in Rhode Island.
“From a coffin of this description the air may be exhausted so completely as entirely to prevent the decay of the contained body on principles well understood; or, if preferred, the coffin may be filled with any gas or fluid having the property of preventing putrefaction,” the visionary inventor explained.
Gold & Silver Pawn Shop guest Scott wanted a staggering $3,500 for the metal burial case, which would once have been sought after by the rich and famous due to its potential to deter grave robbers.
After showcasing the item, Scott attempted to get Rick on his side by offering to open the Civil War-era antique.
It took some cajoling, but the Pawn Stars favourite eventually relented and replied: “Okay fine, open it”.
But Rick was less than impressed by what was inside the Fisk Casket - a stained, white lining which Scott claimed was just watermarked.
“Oh my gosh,” the expert exclaimed. “Yeah you can close it up. Deeply creepy. I can’t believe these things are so collectible.
“It’s Cast Iron, it’s very brittle,” he continued. “You dropped this thing, it’s going to shatter.”
Rick went on to praise how ‘innovative’ the airtight coffin would have been back in the day before finding out his guest acquired the item at a funeral home.
Scott went on to claim that while he wanted $3,500 for the moulded coffin, he was told by a rival evaluator that he would get $4,000 for it at auction.
“People do collect these things,” agreed Rick. “And I would like to make you an offer but it’s creepy.”
The customer tried to get the American businessman back on side by offering him the metal sarcophagus for $2750. But it was to no avail.
“I’m sure there’s money to be made with this thing somewhere it’s just unfortunately not for me,” Rick concluded.
Later, Scott admitted that he probably shouldn’t have pushed to open the casket as he left Pawn Stars with the item still in his possession.
If you ever want to see one of these bizarre Fisk coffins for yourself, there is currently one on display at the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton, Tennessee.