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Rare silver dollar sold for $10 million

NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A New Jersey firm says it bought a rare silver dollar coin at auction for a record $10 million.

The coin, known as a Flowing Hair Silver Dollar because it shows Lady Liberty with long, flowing locks, was minted in Philadelphia in 1794.

"It's one of the rarest coins in existence," said Laura Sperber, co-partner of Legend Numismatics of Lincroft, which purchased the coin. "Who knows who could have held this coin? George Washington? Any of the Founding Fathers?"

The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger reported Tuesday there are only believed to be about 150 of the coins still in existence of the 1,750 minted that year before the mold was destroyed.

The coin was previously owned by Martin Logies, a private collector who purchased it for a then-record $7.8 million in 2010, which had stood as the record for a coin purchase until Legend topped it last week. It was the last of 94 lots, conducted last week by auction house Stack's Bowers in New York City.

Nik Wallenda walks high wire over hometown

SARASOTA, Fla., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Tight rope artist Nik Wallenda took a stroll Tuesday on a high wire suspended 200 feet above his Florida hometown.

Wallenda, who performed the stunt without a safety harness, said the walk over downtown Sarasota took him about 15 minutes, WOFL-TV, Orlando, reported Tuesday.

"It was an amazing walk," he said. "There was more wind than I expected for sure and the cable moved a lot more than I wanted to. I wanted to stop when I was in the middle but there was no way I was able to."

Wallenda said before the walk he was not worried about walking the high wire without a harness.

"There's always concerns. There's always stress that goes into what I do. The truth is, there is risk in what I'm doing. Of course there's always worrying. I always say that fear is a choice. Danger is real. And that's something I have to deal with on a daily basis," he said.

U.S. 41 was closed during Wallenda's stunt, but has since reopened.

Man finds gator on doorstep

NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A Florida man said he went out to get his mail and was shocked to find a 4-foot alligator waiting on his doorstep.

Lloyd Tomer of the Twin Eagle's Community in Naples said he came out for his mail Monday afternoon and saw the reptile on his front doorstep, WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, Fla., reported Tuesday.

"I thought it was my son playing games with me but when he turned and opened his mouth and chased me away. It just immediately scares you," Tomer said.

Tomer said he called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and a crew responded to capture the gator.

Officials said they believe the reptile came from the lake behind Tomer's home.

High school sets Bubble Wrap record

HAWTHORNE, N.J., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A New Jersey high school celebrated Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day by setting a Guinness world record with 366 people simultaneously popping Bubble Wrap.

Hawthorne High School and the Sealed Air Corp., manufacturer of Bubble Wrap, said 366 people popped the product for two minutes with a Guinness World Records adjudicator on hand to make the record official, The (Newark) Star-Ledger reported Tuesday.

Sealed Air said the event marked the 13th annual Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, which is celebrated on the last Monday in January.

The company, which was founded in 1960, said it manufactures enough Bubble Wrap each year to stretch to the moon and back.