# What is the most expensive item you own **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072 "2009-10-16T19:27:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/1 "2009-10-16T19:27:55Z")
Other than a house or motor vehicle. Either purchase or resale price. I can’t think of much myself, other than a few pieces of Stickley furniture that were a couple grand a piece. No idea how much value they retain. Tho they are expensive, we love the style and they will last forever - be handed down to our kids and grandkids. But other than that, I’m not sure I own anything else that would be worth more than a couple hundred. My wife has a couple of pieces of expensive jewelry, but not me. No art, expensive collectibles, antiques, etc. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/2 "2009-10-16T19:34:39Z")
If you count the tools, my rollaway. 30 years of hand tool collecting all in one big ass stainless steel rollaway and chest. It’s worth a whole lot more than my car too. Throw in all my tools and other tool storage, it probably approaches the value of the place I’m living in right now. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/3 "2009-10-16T20:54:16Z")
Probably my bed. My partner’s bed is worth more, and we do own these things in common, but we didn’t actually pay for that one. It was just kind of thrown into the purchase when we bought our flat, despite being worth about £3000 (yes, pounds sterling. I can’t believe an ordinary bed can cost that much. Call me old-fashioned!). ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/4 "2009-10-16T20:56:30Z")
My fiancee has some amazing posters from the Cannes film festival that are framed up. They’re collectors items and hard to come by in the States and they’re supposedly worth a decent amount. Probably not thousands, but they’re nice. She also had an extremely rare Charlie Chaplin poster from the Chicago Film Festival that runs quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/5 "2009-10-16T21:32:14Z")
My TV apparatus was quite expensive when we got it. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/6 "2009-10-16T22:06:12Z")
The most expensive thing (at the time of purchase) in my house is my TV. That being said, however, I have several items of jewelry and silver that would be appraised much higher than the TV. I also have some stock certificates that are worth considerally more than the TV but technically. I have my grandfather’s pocket watch (circa 1910) and mother’s engagement ring (circa 1946). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/7 "2009-10-16T22:25:41Z")
My house is filled with art (I’m an artist, and so were both of my parents). Added up, it’s worth a few times more than the house. Also, my coin collection, which is in a safe deposit box. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/8 "2009-10-16T22:26:51Z")
My wife’s dental work. Beyond that… computer collection, if we’re allowing collections. Camper? Sofa set? I’m really pretty cheap and luckily my wife isn’t into diamonds! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/9 "2009-10-16T22:32:25Z")
In order of value: The piano. Two guitars are worth a lot, several more, not so much. Laptop - quickly declining in value by the minute ---
**Author:** ![pharris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@pharris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pharris)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/10 "2009-10-16T22:34:28Z")
All the books. Books, books, books. More books. Watch for me on a future of edition of “Hoarders: Death by Bookalanche” ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/11 "2009-10-16T22:35:22Z")
I have a one oz gold coin that is worth over $1,000 at current prices. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/12 "2009-10-16T22:59:50Z")
Some artwork by regional artists that has appreciated a bit, this [poster](http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/grateful-dead/poster-art/poster/WIN781231.html) (original, framed), and a few pieces of antique furniture I got when my mother moved. Maybe some of my signed First Editions. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/13 "2009-10-16T23:04:11Z")
If we’re going by single items, it would probably be my copy of the OED. It cost $900 something and is many times more expensive than my TV. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/14 "2009-10-16T23:05:34Z")
Probably my 8-core Mac Pro. ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/15 "2009-10-16T23:25:49Z")
A collection of failed American handgun designs from throughout history including: - 1845 Allen & Thurber Pepperbox - 1860 Savage & North Revolving Pistol - 1883 Protector Palm Pistol - 1959 Dardick 1500 - 1966 MBA Gyrojet My wife also has some fancy French furniture from the early 1900s that has been passed to us from her great Aunt that we recently had reupholstered. That’s definitely worth several thousands of dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/16 "2009-10-16T23:27:38Z")
64% of a set of businesses worth mid to high six figures. Goods and chattels? Likely a 15th Century vellum indenture with original seals. Any number of 17-18th antiques of all sorts. 1 hollow body guitar that cost too much twenty years ago. ---
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/17 "2009-10-16T23:32:21Z")
Per item or in aggregate? Single item: I own a copy of a [c.1910 art book on jewelry](http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45716896&referer=brief_results) that can be found for ~$400 if you can find it at all (I got it for about half that). Those of you who are less extravagant can buy the [reprint](http://www.amazon.com/Nouveau-Jewelry-Fans-Gabriel-Mourey/dp/0486229610) for around $14. In aggregate: I am on a mission to collect all issues of La Mode Illustree (French fashion magazine, with patterns!) published between 1900 and 1929. I’m about half there. Retail value of the 400+ issues I own (based on “I’m buying this right now, no time to comparison shop!” prices) would be around $12K (be assured I did not spend that much - patience and buying in large lots saves much cash, even on the collectables market). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/18 "2009-10-17T03:53:25Z")
Baseball card collection from the early to mid 1950’s. My grandma didn’t throw them away! Cost, five cards plus a good piece of bubblegum for five cents. Today’s value for 1,000 plus cards? Uh, a LOT! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/19 "2009-10-17T04:30:19Z")
Toshiba laptop. $550. I spend an awful lot of money on things but never seem to have anything to show for it. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2009, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072/20 "2009-10-17T05:02:11Z")
Probably my computer, which is just a run-of-the-mill Dell PC. Of course, now that the computer is several years old, my $200 organic chemistry textbook is probably worth more. :rolleyes: ETA: My binoculars were $300 new when I bought them a few years ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-expensive-item-you-own/514072.md?page=2)