Bad economic times, good gold prices turn pawns into kings

At Gold Rush II in Champaign, the store's name has been prescient. With gold prices on a relative upswing – listed at $877 an ounce midday Friday, according to the New York Mercantile Exchange – people have been selling or getting loans on gold.

For co-owner Don Crowder, that's been true at the shop at 41 E. Main St. He's found more people are trading in their gold – often in the form of necklaces and rings – for cash.

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