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Not a huge treasure, but still a cool story about doing the right thing.
Silver coin more valuable than gold
By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal
Published April 14, 2010
It’s a case of a silver quarter that no one knew had been lost. And, for one Fort Payne woman, it’s proven more valuable than gold.
When Sheri Chatman took her mom’s Ford Windstar to be detailed a few weeks ago, she didn’t expect the cleanup crew would find lost treasure in the floorboards. But that’s exactly what happened.
William Kilgore, the shop manager at Keep It Clean auto detailer, happened to find a quarter while cleaning. And, while loose change isn’t a rare find, this quarter happened to be an 1837 Liberty Cap Quarter – made of silver and in good condition.
When Chatman returned for the van, Kilgore returned the quarter. Chatman, in turn, gave the quarter to her mom, Elinor Keef. It’s believed the coin belonged to Keef’s late husband, Joe, who was an avid coin collector.
Keef said he died about three years ago and speculates he must have somehow dropped the coin in the car at some point before then, where it’s been riding around ever since.
“We really don’t know exactly how it came to be there or how long it was there,” Keef said. “Obviously, it had to have belonged to Joe.”
Chatman said her mom and dad always kept their vehicles in “immaculate” shape.
“That’s why the quarter wasn’t found before now; the vehicles always stay so clean,” she said. “This was the first time the van had even been in need of such a thorough cleaning.”
Thomas Warren, with Little River Coin at Valley Head, said the quarter is probably worth about $75 to $100, but Keef said she has no plans to sell. It’s a family keepsake, now.
“We were really shocked at first,” Chatman said. “We didn’t know what to make of it. The quarter is in such great shape. It’s really surprising.”
Both Chatman and Keef said they were also pleasantly surprised by the degree of honesty shown by Kilgore and the rest of the Keep It Clean staff.
“They were very honest,” Keef said. “That man could have just stuck it in his pocket and never said a word, but he didn’t.”
Chris Berry, owner Keep It Clean said the family-owned business is an honest one.
“We just like to treat people the way we would like to be treated,” he said.
Keef and the rest of her family are grateful for that, and for the return of her husband’s rare silver coin – one she never even knew he had lost.
http://times-journal.com/story.lasso?ewcd=540ae2cb164db420
Silver coin more valuable than gold
By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal
Published April 14, 2010
It’s a case of a silver quarter that no one knew had been lost. And, for one Fort Payne woman, it’s proven more valuable than gold.
When Sheri Chatman took her mom’s Ford Windstar to be detailed a few weeks ago, she didn’t expect the cleanup crew would find lost treasure in the floorboards. But that’s exactly what happened.
William Kilgore, the shop manager at Keep It Clean auto detailer, happened to find a quarter while cleaning. And, while loose change isn’t a rare find, this quarter happened to be an 1837 Liberty Cap Quarter – made of silver and in good condition.
When Chatman returned for the van, Kilgore returned the quarter. Chatman, in turn, gave the quarter to her mom, Elinor Keef. It’s believed the coin belonged to Keef’s late husband, Joe, who was an avid coin collector.
Keef said he died about three years ago and speculates he must have somehow dropped the coin in the car at some point before then, where it’s been riding around ever since.
“We really don’t know exactly how it came to be there or how long it was there,” Keef said. “Obviously, it had to have belonged to Joe.”
Chatman said her mom and dad always kept their vehicles in “immaculate” shape.
“That’s why the quarter wasn’t found before now; the vehicles always stay so clean,” she said. “This was the first time the van had even been in need of such a thorough cleaning.”
Thomas Warren, with Little River Coin at Valley Head, said the quarter is probably worth about $75 to $100, but Keef said she has no plans to sell. It’s a family keepsake, now.
“We were really shocked at first,” Chatman said. “We didn’t know what to make of it. The quarter is in such great shape. It’s really surprising.”
Both Chatman and Keef said they were also pleasantly surprised by the degree of honesty shown by Kilgore and the rest of the Keep It Clean staff.
“They were very honest,” Keef said. “That man could have just stuck it in his pocket and never said a word, but he didn’t.”
Chris Berry, owner Keep It Clean said the family-owned business is an honest one.
“We just like to treat people the way we would like to be treated,” he said.
Keef and the rest of her family are grateful for that, and for the return of her husband’s rare silver coin – one she never even knew he had lost.
http://times-journal.com/story.lasso?ewcd=540ae2cb164db420
