The John Hancock Pocket Watch That Sold For A Mint On Pawn Stars

It's no secret that "Pawn Stars" shop owner Rick Harrison is a history buff. As an avid collector and trader of renowned, expensive items, Rick comes off as a knowledgeable figure in many episodes. Most of the time, Rick only gets to show off his historical chops when a customer comes into the shop to sell something. However, he has also been known to seek out rare items outside of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop.

In particular, Rick often goes hunting to add items to his own personal collection (rather than selling them for a profit as he usually would). He doesn't search for small-time finds either. In one episode, Rick even purchased a pocket watch that once belonged to one of America's founding fathers, John Hancock.

Hancock was an interesting figure for his time. Wealthy and rebellious, he defied the British Crown by smuggling in cheaper illegal tea from the Dutch East India Co. (England had a monopoly on colonial tea at the time). He is even the brain behind the Boston Tea Party and (according to legend) the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. In other words, Hancock is exactly the kind of historical figure whose belongings Rick would want in his collection. In fact, Rick wanted the pocket watch so bad that he was willing to pay big money for it.

Though Rick would eventually purchase just the pocket watch, as seen on the "Pawn Stars" Season 17 episode "Watches, Waistcoats and Wizards," he actually visited a collector friend of his to see John Hancock's waistcoat as well. Brian, the seller, offered Rick $400,000 for both items. Rick, however, is mainly concerned with the pocket watch. As a luxury item from a time when watches were scarce and extremely expensive, Hancock's solid gold watch is an item unlike any other. The seller offers to give Rick the watch for $150,000.

In an odd turn of events, Rick isn't too keen on over-negotiating for this item. Usually, he would play hardball and try to get the best price possible. Instead, he simply offers Brian a simple, fair price at $125,000. Reluctantly, the seller agrees. Thankful and giddy to have gotten a new toy, Rick offers to buy Brian dinner to celebrate the deal.