I held a cheque for just over 80,000 dollars. I then went to the bank a cashed it. Then I lived off of it for the next 24 months while working part time.
Along with about a million other tourists, I saw the Crown Jewels of England in their heavily-guarded display room in the Tower of London in London, England.
In the Jewel House, you stand on one of two escalator-style moving sidewalks which propel you past the glass cases containing the Jewels. There are the Royal sceptres and crowns. The greatest sceptre contains the largest diamond in the world–it is amazing, like looking into a universe of glittering light and geometry.
Having actually seen the source of the crown-symbols which decorate our license-plates and road-signs makes a bit of a difference.
On the other hand, the gold-plate (NOT gold-plated!) serving-bowls and such seemed rather overdone and tacky.
Still, it’s all remarkable artwork for its times.
I saw the Hope Diamond once. I’ve worn Rose Bowl, Super Bowl, World Series, and Indianapolis 500 Championship rings, but not all at the same time.
I have held the paychecks bonus checks for the top executives and all the underlings in our company. (I was the printer) Big Money!
I’ve seen the hope diamond too. However the highest value items I have graced would be billions and billions worth in rare paintings, having been to many art galleries and exhibits.
My dad probably has graced some high value items making million dollar deals often and, on occasion, being the decision maker in billion dollar deals.
I visited a friend of mine who did some treasure salvage and saw and touched a sealed, glass topped display case containing pounds of stuff he’d found from the sea. Gold and silver coins, jewelry, silver spoons and forks, unmounted, colorful stones, gold chain and so on. Back then, I’d say the stuff was worth around half a million. Today it probably is worth a full mill. (What was funny, with all this loot in there, he had clear glass cooking dishes on his roof, to set in the sun for months so they would turn lavender. He wanted to make his own colored cookingware instead of buying it.)
I’ve also seen the crown jewels in London. A couple years ago I worked as a volunteer motorcycle courier at the Fairford airshow. The finance manager, who had known me for less than 10 minutes, handed me a bag with UK10,000 in to take over to the on base bank.