VERO BEACH, Fla. – A rare 18th-century coin worth $9,000 was stolen in Vero Beach, but not for long.
Police say 27-year-old Christopher William Saunders stole the numismatic treasure from a coin shop Tuesday after knocking over a book of coins whose contents included the rare 1752 piece from a Spanish ship.
Police say Saunders underestimated his find. He allegedly sold it for $167 to a nearby antique store owner, who also wasn’t sure of the coin’s worth.
So the antique dealer took it to someone who would: The man who owned the coin shop where it was originally stolen.
At first, the coin store proprietor didn’t realize the item was his. It wasn’t until he turned to his own collection to compare the coin that he realized he had been robbed.
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