Talk about a true treasure hunt! One savvy thrifter recently almost “skipped over” a plain old rock at his local Salvation Army. However, on a second look, it turned out to be a 2,200-year-old Roman coin that he snagged for just $3.99. According to Newsweek, Reddit user u/p—py, shared his amazing story after stumbling upon the ancient artifact in a thrift store in Georgia.
As an experienced thrifter, p—py knows that appearances can be deceiving. He asked the cashier if he could get a better look at the object. “It was in a case and in a bag, so it was hard to see clearly,” he explained. He stuck to his personal rule: always check something out, even if it seems totally mundane. Once he held it in his hands, he quickly realized this wasn’t just any rock. “I could tell it wasn’t a rock and it had intentional markings and was metal,” he said.
It turns out that p—py had unearthed a genuine piece of history. Experts have confirmed that the small, heavy item is a coin from the Roman Republic, dating back to circa 225-217 BC. That’s a whopping 2,200 years old! While it weighs less than 40 grams, p—py noted that it’s “quite heavy for its size.”
That has to be valuable
Coin collectors have since told him that this ancient piece could be worth around $150, which is a fantastic return on his $3.99 investment. Naturally, the internet went wild for his discovery. He posted photos of the coin on Reddit, captioning it, “Didn’t know exactly what it was at the time, but it had heft to it and appeared to be old yet intentional.”
His post quickly gathered over 1,800 votes, with users marveling at the coin’s journey through time. One person perfectly captured the sentiment, writing, “It blows my mind that this coin survived the fall of the Roman Republic, the rise of the Empire, the Dark Ages, and two World Wars… just to end up being sold for $3.99.” Another Reddit user humorously pointed out the irony, saying, “from the Roman Army to the Salvation Army… the irony.”
My personal favorite comment was from someone who admitted, “What an eye you have. I wouldn’t know what it was. It looks like a burnt cookie.” For now, this incredible piece of history has found a new home on p—py’s bookshelf, where he hopes it will spark many conversations. He shared that while it isn’t his most valuable thrift find, it’s definitely his oldest. “It does have a wonderful history to it,” he added.
It just goes to show you what amazing things you can find if you keep an open mind and always, always take a closer look! From notes that mark the birth of the country, to piggy banks full of treasure, you never know what you might find at a Thrift store.
Published: Feb 22, 2026 02:51 pm