NEWS10NOW Story by Joleene Des Rosiers,
July 16, 2008

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Precious heirlooms, rare coins and other sentimental items are being sold to jewelers and antique shops more than ever. Shop owners say many people are selling just to put gas in their tanks.

For over 20 years, Tom Marini of Jewelry on James has been buying gold from customers. But lately it's more frequent; just so they can turn around and buy gas.

"In the last, probably six weeks, we've seen a lot of customers that have talked about needing to get gas for their cars," Marini said.

On the other side of the city, Selma Adydan is experiencing the same thing. A large influx of people selling just to get going. She's actually posted a sign outside her store, offering a $20 gas card on top of what they get for their goods.

"I think it's the economy and people needing to put gas in their tanks and cash in their pockets. It's a hard time right now. I'm seeing it over and over again," Adydan said.

Adydan said she's seen her share of heirlooms come into her shop. She's seen estate jewelry, but now she's seeing more of it. And she's also seeing things like rare gold coins and other coin collections.

"Some of the things that I'm seeing that I wasn't seeing before are gold coins, silver coins. We're getting Krugerrands, were getting a lot of coins," Adydan said.

She's also seeing more precious pieces meant to be inherited.

"Why are you bringing these kind of heirlooms into my store? I mean, this is stuff that stays in the family," Adydan said.

"There are some family heirlooms in there. And a lot of people say I really don't want to part with this, but I really have some bills I have to pay," Marini adds.

The majority of jewelry that sells today is yellow gold. Marini said white gold is what's in fashion today. And he said that if white gold starts selling, it's a true sign of a severely broken economy.