Thanks for the help guys.  I will try messing with it a bit more when I get home tonight.  Here is the actual quest that I am using right now that completely works other than returning items not in the hash values:
	Code:
	sub EVENT_ITEM {
my %accessories = (
 2439 => 3236, #Amice
 2634 => 3249, #Cape
 2660 => 3295, #Charm
 2993 => 3536, #Contributor_Charm
 2445 => 3242, #Earring
 2443 => 3238, #Girdle
 2442 => 3237, #Mask
 2444 => 3239, #Necklace
 2451 => 3248, #Ring
 );
  if ($qglobals{cora_credits} >= 25) {  #used for my new credit system just in this zone
    for my $accessories (sort keys %accessories) {
      if(defined($accessories)) {
        if (plugin::check_handin(\%itemcount, $accessories => 1)) {
          if(defined($accessories{$accessories})) {
            quest::emote("recognizes your efforts and fashions an upgrade for your armor piece" );
            quest::say("Thank you, $name, here is your upgraded armor piece!");
            quest::exp(45000);
            quest::setglobal("cora_credits", $qglobals{cora_credits}-25, 1, "F"); #subtracting 25 credits
            quest::summonitem($accessories{$accessories});
my $total_credits = ($qglobals{cora_credits} - 25);
$client->Message(5, "You have spent 25 Corathus Credits and now have $total_credits remaining credits.");
          }
        } 
#    else { #these are commented out because they don't work
#      plugin::return_items(\%itemcount);
#      quest::say ("I have no use for this item, $name.");
#       }        
      } 
    }
  }
    else { #this works for returning items if they don't have enough credits
      plugin::return_items(\%itemcount);
      quest::say ("You don't have enough credits for that, sorry.");    
    }
}
 
So far I am very happy with the system.  Once I get it working flawlessly with the return item, I will post all of the credit system quests, which includes quests for mobs that give credit when they die as well as these quests for rewards that credits can be used for (along with an item turn-in in this case).  I think they could be useful to other custom servers.