Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in October 2015.
In a remarkable turn of events, a collector in Fresno, California struck gold by nabbing a vintage photograph for a mere two bucks – a seemingly worthless piece turned into a potential goldmine. The twist? The photo features none other than the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid, nonchalantly engaged in a game of croquet.
The value of this historic image? A jaw-dropping estimated $5 million.
Kagin’s Inc., a renowned numismatics firm, made headlines by officially authenticating the photo earlier this month. The 4-inch-by-5-inch tintype captures Billy the Kid during the summer of 1878, potentially at a wedding, alongside members of his notorious gang, The Regulators.
David McCarthy, Kagin’s senior numismatist, shed light on the rigorous scrutiny that lasted over a year before the firm confirmed the photo’s authenticity. McCarthy emphasized the need for thorough verification, stating that a mere resemblance wouldn’t cut it in a case like this. A team of experts had to be assembled to scrutinize every detail, ensuring that nothing was amiss.
“When we first saw the photograph, we were understandably skeptical — an original Billy the Kid photo is the Holy Grail of Western Americana,” McCarthy revealed. “After more than a year of methodical study, including my own inspection of the site, there is now overwhelming evidence of the image’s authenticity.”
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