Bring your antiques to Treasure Hunters show in Elgin

Your old coin collection or childhood train set collecting dust in storage could fetch a pretty penny.

Visitors to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow in Elgin can find out if that's the case during the five-day event starting Sunday at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 495 Airport Road.

And they'll have the opportunity to sell their collectibles if they so choose.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, through Wednesday, Dec. 22, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23.

The Elgin event is just one of about 1,200 free shows the Springfield-based organization hosts in three countries the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom every year, said Matthew Enright, the group's spokesman.

Just last week, a roadshow event was held in Arlington Heights.

Locals can bring their collectibles to get an individual evaluation by experts with knowledge in various fields. Wait times average 30 to 45 minutes, Enright said.

With a database of thousands of collectors at hand, roadshow staff make offers to visitors, who can get paid that day. The organization sends items to collectors, who pay a flat fee in return.

“We're connecting buyers and sellers,” he said.

Enright said most visitors who come to roadshows want to be paid for their collectibles. Indeed, 82 percent of people that come in walk out with money for their items, he said.

“Most people want to know if they have the best million dollar penny, or a rare baseball card or comic book. People want to hear how much it's worth,” Enright said. “But then (they ask,) ‘Where's my check?' ”

Gold has increasingly become the most popular item people bring in to roadshows, Enright said. Prices fluctuate, and they may differ by region. But Enright said the prices offered at roadshows are competitive since the company operates the Ohio Valley Gold and Silver Refinery.

Other popular items include coins before 1965, due to a high demand in the precious metals market.

The hottest item this year, Enright said, is antique guitars. Metallica guitarist James Hetfield paid $300,000 for a Les Paul guitar earlier this year.

The Treasure Hunters Roadshow began taping episodes for its new syndicated television show in September. It's unlikely there will be major filming at next week's Elgin roadshow, but cameras could be there, Enright said.

For details, visit treasurehuntersroadshow.com.