Ep 14. Pawning Picasso

In the season 16 of the popular reality TV show Pawn Stars, episode 14 named Pawning Picasso, viewers are welcomed to yet another exciting episode featuring the Harrison family of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas.

The show starts with the arrival of an outstanding piece of work by none other than Pablo Picasso. The seller claims to have inherited the painting from her grandfather who had won it in a card game with a veteran who had served in France during World War I. With the painting in her possession for the past 20 years, the seller has finally decided to sell the painting to pay for her daughter's college tuition.

As the Harrisons take a look at the painting, they are struck by its beauty and meticulous brushwork. The painting, titled "Jeune fille endormie" or young girl sleeping, was completed in 1935 and signed by the revered artist himself. The painting is in pristine condition and has all of its original framing. It isn't long before everyone agrees that it is a masterpiece.

However, the task now falls on the Harrisons to determine its authenticity and fair market value. They call upon their in-house appraiser, Brett Maly, to examine the painting and provide his expert opinion. Brett has seen many paintings that have turned out to be fakes, so he knows exactly what to look for. He examines the painting and determines that it is indeed authentic and could potentially be worth millions at auction.

Now, the Harrisons must decide whether or not to purchase the painting and add it to their collection. They consult with their friend and art expert, expert James Butterfield, to provide a second opinion. James confirms Brett's assessment and agrees that the painting could fetch upwards of $10 million at auction.

The seller has set a price of $1.5 million, much to the Harrisons' surprise. Given the painting's rarity, condition, and provenance, they know that the seller's asking price is reasonable. However, they want to make sure they don't overpay. They decide to offer the seller $1 million, which is still a considerable amount. The seller is taken aback by the offer, but after a brief negotiation, they eventually agree on the price, and the painting becomes part of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop's collection.

Aside from the painting, the episode also features a rare bottle of whiskey from the prohibition era and a 1921 Morgan silver dollar. An individual comes in with a bottle of The Dukes, a rare American whiskey distilled in 1910 and bottled in 1969. They had bought the bottle at an estate sale and knew they had something special on their hands. Rick Harrison consults with The Whiskey Library owner Jon Christensen, who specializes in rare whiskeys. After examining the bottle, Jon determines that it's legitimate and could be worth up to $10,000, much to the delight of the seller.

Later, a man arrives with a 1921 Morgan silver dollar, which is notorious in the coin-collecting community for being one of the most sought-after coins in existence. The seller claims to have inherited the coin from his grandfather, who collected coins as a hobby. Rick is quite familiar with the rarity of this coin and calls in his trusted coin expert, Mark Hall-Patton, to appraise it. Mark confirms that the coin is from the San Francisco mint and is in excellent condition, making it worth around $4,000. After some negotiation, the Harrisons purchase the coin for $3,500.

In conclusion, Pawn Stars season 16 episode 14, Pawning Picasso, is a must-see for anyone with an interest in art history, whiskey, or rare coins. The Harrisons show once again why their expertise in different fields has made them successful, respected, and loved. The episode shows just how far they're willing to go to acquire and add quality items to their vast collection and put smiles on the faces of their customers.