Writing Prompt: “fool’s gold”, entry by thepavsalford

A big hello to all Freewriters and Hiveans!

This is my entry to the Writing Prompt by @mariannewest for 26 November 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2933: fool’s gold.

They were selling copies of old banknotes embellished with golden leaves.

They had found a way to reach the customers of a big bank, and it looked like the bank itself recommended them.

At least, this is what the bank’s customers came to believe.

They said that this was a good investment in the long run, because, as the old banknotes were taken out of circulation due to a change in the country’s official currency, their value would rise.

He paid about 1,500 euro of his hard-earned cash to buy this supposedly solid investment for the future.

He had completely forgotten the banknotes, when, after a decade or so, he decided to check their value, just out of curiosity.

He got a nasty surprise, because the valuer told him that they could fetch no more than 300 euro on the market.

A loss of 1,200 euro in 10 years.

Do you call this a solid, foolproof investment?

I call it fool’s gold!