Alphonse Gabriel Capone was an American gangster.
Often known by his nickname "Scarface,” he rose to infamy in the 1920s as a Chicago crime boss.
According to the FBI, he was involved in everything from prostitution, bootlegging, and bribery, to drug trafficking, robbery, and murder.
By 1928, The New Yorker was calling him “the greatest gang leader in history.” It was widely known, but never proved, that he was the mastermind behind dozens of murders.
Given this brief introduction, you won’t be surprised to learn that Al Capone was the target of many murder attempts. But he didn’t succumb to any of them.
Today, I’ll show you how he protected himself…
And explain how his “sweetheart” could potentially lead you to 300% returns.
Capone’s Protection — One of His Most Prized Possessions
In 1911, the gun company Colt manufactured a .45 semi-automatic pistol that eventually became one of Capone's most prized possessions.
Here’s a picture of it:
Historians say the pistol was turned over to Capone’s wife, Mae, who handed it down to their son, Sonny. Sonny then left it to his daughters, Diane and Barbara.
As Diane said during an interview with CBS:
This gun was kind of his protection and I think it saved his life on a number of occasions and so he called it his sweetheart.
She also said that, as far as she knew, her grandfather carried the pistol with him at all times. It was his “favorite” gun.
Alcatraz — The End
Capone’s run as a gangster lasted for many years.
But eventually it came to an end.
In 1931, he was convicted of tax evasion and various prohibition violations and sent to prison.
He served time in federal prison in Atlanta, and at Alcatraz off the coast of San Francisco.
He died while incarcerated. He was just 48 years old.
For Sale: An Iconic Pistol
But after his death, Capone’s infamy lived on.
In 2021, his granddaughters put the pistol — already an iconic collectable — up for auction.
In the end, it sold to a private collector for just over $1 million, which was hundreds of thousands of dollars more than anticipated.
Now it’s up for auction once again. This time, Richmond Auctions in Greenville, South Carolina is hosting the sale, which takes place next Saturday, May 18.
As Kimmie Williams, a firearms specialist at Richmond Auctions, said, "This particular Colt 1911 is more than just a firearm. It's a relic of an era marked by lawlessness and larger-than-life personalities. Its profound connection to Al Capone adds an extra layer of allure…”
The winner of the auction will need to pay up. Bidding starts at $500,000, but it’s estimated that the winner will pay somewhere between $2 million and $3 million.
In other words, the collector who bought Capone’s pistol in 2021 is expected to make up to 3x his or her money in just a few years.
Not bad!
Auctions for All
Most of us won’t be bidding in multi-million-dollar auctions anytime soon.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t invest in high-potential collectibles.
You see, a new type of platform recently emerged to give ordinary people the ability to invest small amounts of money into collectibles.
Essentially, just like you can buy a $100 stake in a startup, now you can buy $100 worth of a piece of fine art, a bottle of wine, or personal items including jewelry, watches, and weapons owned by historical figures like Capone.
For example, check out some of the leading collectible platforms like Public and Rally.
Notably, Rally recently offered investors a chance to buy the tuxedo worn by Al Pacino’s character Tony Montana in the classic film “Scarface.”
Through sites like these, you can invest an amount you’re comfortable with — $100 here, $100 there — and when the item sells, you’ll receive your pro-rata share of any profits.
Before You Get Started
Keep in mind, all the typical caveats about investing apply here:
For example, don’t invest more than you can afford to lose; invest in what you know; and be sure to dip your toe into the water before diving in.
Furthermore, many alternative investments aren’t entirely “liquid.” That means they can’t necessarily be converted into cash at the snap of your fingers.
So don’t invest your rent or grocery money into these offerings. But if the Al Capone story piqued your interest in collectibles, give these platforms a look.
In the meantime, to learn more about the auction for Capone’s “sweetheart,” click here »
Happy investing.
Best Regards,
Founder
Crowdability.com
