There should be a version of Antiques Roadshow where adventurers come in and get their items identified. It would of course be called Artifacts Roadshow.

Tell me, do you know anything about this short sword?

Well, not really, I picked it in a hoard of treasure we found after killing some Trolls. I have noticed that it glows slightly when enemies are near.

There’d be experts on all different subjects. Scrolls and potions:

This scroll labelled FOOBIE BLETCH is actually a scroll of Genocide! This is quite a find! But the brilliant blue potion you have here appears to be just fruit juice.

Elven goods:

See this mark here? It’s in Tengwar, but I know it’s the mark of Celebrimbor, a great craftsman of Rivendell. This ring mail happens to be pure Mithril, do you know what that means?

Polearms:

I have this Guissarme here, I’d like to know…

I’m going to stop you there, because a lot of people make that mistake. This is actually a Fauchard-Fork, which you can tell by the much longer blade. You’re in luck though, because it’s at least a +2.

They’d bring in the Keno twins for truly unique items:

Wow, I’m really glad you brought this in today. You have a really special item here. I’ve talked to some of the other identifiers here today, and we checked some tomes, and we all agree: This is actually the Wand of Orcus!

Orcus, the Prince of the Undead?

That’s right. Did you find this in the Abyss?

No, I picked it up in an item shop for 45 silver pieces.

That’s really astounding. It’s a good thing you didn’t touch this skull at the tip, because you’d be dead. This artifact can also animate dead three times a day, and cast unholy aura as a 20th level sorcerer twice a day. Do you have any idea what the value of an item like this might be?

I really… No.

In a busy shop, with an expert shopkeeper, this item could bring as much as 10,000 GP.

Wow! I just… Wow! I’m never going to sell it, but… Wow!

Of course, every once in a while, things wouldn’t go so well.

I put on this ring, and haven’t been able to take it off? Can you tell me what it is?

How have you been feeling since you put it on?

Actually, I have been feeling strange. Even after eating these lembas wafers, I haven’t been able to be satiated.

Well, I have some bad news for you. This black onyx ring is actually a cursed ring of hunger. I’m sorry.