MARION COUNTY, Fla. -- The manager of a Marion County jewelry store opened fire when a robber came in to steal an expensive coin.

The robber was after a rare coin worth $20,000 from a store on 109th Avenue in Summerfield.

At Bob's Coins and Jewelry, general manager Vicki Buxton believes in tight security.

"I knew it was coming, and I watch everyone," said Buxton.

A man with a hammer smashed into one of the cases and grabbed a rare medallion; depicting an image of Christ and one just like it was given to the Pope.

It is no ordinary coin. It's more than 11 ounces of solid gold with three flawless diamonds and a ruby.

The $20,000 theft was caught on several security cameras. The bandit was in and out in just a few seconds.

"Runs out into the parking lot, drops it, goes chasing after it. It was pretty comical. That's all he had time to get," she said.

However, Vickie had time to grab her gun, but luckily for the thief, the weapon misfired twice. The bullets she said were 20 years old.

"When they're old, they won't work?" asked WFTV reporter Berndt Petersen.

"Right," she replied. "So, I re-chambered one and got one off. I'm pretty sure I hit the back of his truck."

"How scared were you?" asked Petersen. "I wasn't scared until afterward," responded Buxton.

She believes the robber had a helper, a woman she suspects was casing the place right before the smash and grab.

Sheriff's detectives aren't sure. Vicki doesn't know if she'll ever see that gold piece again, but she says she's not going to lose any more of her inventory.

"We'll have buzzers installed on the door Monday morning and even more cameras and more security. And a better gun," she said.

Buxton says a coin like that would be very hard to pawn and she doubts it's headed for the black market. She suspects the thieves will pry out the jewels and melt the gold.