Christmas Quiz

[catmoffat]

A man acquired a paper item worth �1. The item sustantially increased in valve a short time later. As a consequence, he destroyed it. If the item had been worth much less, he would have traded it for cash. What was the item and why did he destroy it.

[crofter]

A jackpot-winning lottery ticket?

He didn't want it to change his life in any radical way.
Had it been for a lesser prize, he would have accepted the money.

NB The author does not subscribe to such sentiments!