101 things in your attic that could be worth a lot of money

179. Giant Minnow Haskell Copper Bait

Manufacturer: Riley Haskell
original price: N/A (not sold commercially)
Worth today: US$ 100,000*

Ironically, there are fishing lures out there that are worth more than your truck or boat. One such lure is the Giant Haskell Minnow Lure which sold for US$ 100,000 at auction. The ten-inch lure was made by Riley Haskell, a gunsmith.

According to historians, the Haskell bait was the “first American fish-shaped bait” and, because it had a spinning tail, it was also the first “American animated bait” in existence. The Haskell bait patent was issued before the Civil War, in 1859. Riley Haskell branded the Ohio-made bait “R. Haskell” at the end, and this tagging was one of the features that authenticated this treasured piece of history.