title: “Bidding War” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-12” author: “Sharon Metelus”
Alas, the head was a hoax, (just as well–the shipping fee for hauling it back to the states on a B-52 would’ve been a killer). But by Saturday morning, a search for “Saddam” on eBay returned more than 3,500 items–some of less questionable authenticity. A search for “Iraq” turned up a thousand more hits than that. And as troops return home, eBay expects to see an influx of genuine Iraq paraphernalia. “We expect to see anything from Iraqi newspapers to items directly associated with Saddam,” says Kevin Pursglove, eBay spokesman.
Indeed, Iraqi dinars, boasting portraits of Saddam, are among the hottest items on eBay right now. And it’s a seller’s market–although one dinar is worth about half a penny on the Iraqi street, bids for 100-dinar-notes hover between $20 and $50. Bidders will also find stamps, official regime badges, toilet paper emblazoned with Saddam’s image and a dining utensil that someone with the handle “talibanboss” is shilling as “an original fork from Saddam Hussein’s palace that slipped in my pocket on my last visit in Baghdad.” Bids for the fork were up to $600 by Saturday morning.
Of course, there are limits to what you’ll ultimately find. Military weaponry and ammunition are restricted by e-Bay, “human parts and remains” are banned and soldiers may only put up for sale what they legally own. But, Pursglove notes, “I doubt there’s anyone left at the palace that’s going to be bringing any receipts to authorities” proving that items were taken lawfully. To be sure, there have been other pranks as well: bids climbed as high as $25,000 for a chance to ride around Baghdad on a bronze Saddam head before the item was yanked. So, caveat emptor–and let the bidding begin.
