World trade center artifacts for sale

Jonathan "J.J." Fay never thought he'd sell his newspaper plate of the Twin Towers in smoke, the original printing press etching that the New York Daily News used to print its papers on September 12, 2001. Fay, a 38-year-old mechanic from Milwaukee, came to New York for work in the fall of 2001. He found the aluminum plate by accident while working on a fix for newspaper distribution centers.

"Times are tough," Fay says. "[The plate] should be framed and put on a wall. I can't afford to do it, so I hope that someone else will."

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Like hundreds of other Americans, Fay is listing his 9/11 relic on eBay (EBAY). In the weeks leading up to 10th anniversary, the online market for relics, memorabilia and collectibles has exploded. According to Google's (GOOG) cache, the number of items listed as 9/11 historical memorabilia on eBay has increased by 57% (from 816 items to 1,288 items) since late June.

Items range from commemorative tchotchkes to actual artifacts from the rubble. Among the thousands of objects eBay had listed on Wednesday were 9/11 coins, knives

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