Could your weird collections be worth millions?
Filed under: Extracurriculars
It's always boggled my mind how some people will pay thousands of dollars for items that once sold for just pennies. It would be neat to see a 200-year-old rare coin, or a collection of commemorative stamps from the early 20th century, but I just don't see spending the equivalent of a vacation house on my own private island to own these things. Nevertheless, if you've got a collection of some sort, there is probably someone out there who will pay you for it -- and you might be surprised at just how much money some things will fetch. When I first noticed this phenomenon as a child, I started hoarding pogs. I never played the game and in fact couldn't even tell you the rules, but I owned thousands of those stupid discs, because I was told that one day they would be very valuable. (I still have them and I'm still waiting for that day to come. Something tells me it won't.) My mother has a whole cabinet full of salt cellars, but I'm pretty sure none of them have ever been used. My in-laws have a salt and pepper shaker set for any theme or occasion. And there's a guy I know who has every issue of Playboy magazine ever printed. Now I can see someone forking over big bucks for that collection!
Forbes has compiled a list of some of the world's strangest -- and most surprisingly valuable -- collections. Lots of people collect coins, and it's pretty easy to find buyers for particularly rare specimens, but imagine a set of just 301 pennies fetching $10.7 million! That's a pretty incredible markup. My personal favorite on the Forbes list is Rune Trapper's collection of airplane barf bags. He has over 1200 airsickness bags from 474 airlines and 133 countries. That's impressive. There's also a dog collar collection on the list valued at $75,000, and if you own any memorabilia from The Wizard of Oz movie, you might see six figures for something like that.
The thing about collections is that they become extremely sentimental. If you're ever going to build up a collection worth any real money, you're going to be at it for most of your life -- will you be ready to part with these things when the right bidder comes along?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
12-05-2008 @ 10:06PM
Angie said...
Don't you mean lying around, not laying around?
Reply
12-06-2008 @ 12:45PM
Marla said...
Angie,
Laying around is what is used to describe objects. Only people "lie."
12-06-2008 @ 1:56PM
Trish said...
Nope, Maria, the word has nothing to do with what you are referring to. "Lay" means to put or to place. "Lie" means to rest or recline. When English grammar was no longer taught regularly in public schools, apparently people developed unusual ideas about how the English language works - as you appear to have done. That's why we see such a proliferation of linguistic abominations such as "Me and John are going..." or "John gave Mary and I..." (it should be john gave Mary and me because me is the indirect object and thus needs the objective case "me" not the subjective I.
12-05-2008 @ 10:12PM
NANCY said...
I COLLECT PLAYING CARDS AND HAVE THOUSANDS OF DECKS. I CANT FIND MUCH INFORMATION ON THEM BUT I REALLY LOVE THEM.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING OTHER PEOPLES
COLLECTIONS.
Reply
12-06-2008 @ 10:36AM
Dave said...
Nancy, I didn't know there were others like me. Now here's the question - do you open them and, dare I say, play cards with them? I haven't used (or even opened) all of my decks, but I'm not opposed to it. Should I keep them unopened and mint?
12-06-2008 @ 10:47AM
Dinoca said...
Hi Nancy
I've got some playing cards I plan to put up on Ebay as a lot. About 5 decks, 1 rare mini deck in particular very nice.Let me know if you're interested.
12-06-2008 @ 11:59AM
gini said...
i bought several decks of "most wanted" terrorists since the Iraq war began. Will share with any serious collector.
12-06-2008 @ 12:02PM
Karen said...
I have 2 bottles of wine I tried to put on ebay BUT they insisted I have a liquor license to sell them. I don't have the labels in front of me b/c I am on the road until the 15th, but the name on both bottles is PRINCE CHARLES. There is a paragraph underneath that says something like commemorating the marriage of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles and there are dates, etc. I have tried over the past couple of years to find out IF they are worth anything but no luck. I guess they would be worth something to SOMEONE - but not sure how to go about how much to charge let alone where to sell them. Any ideas. I have pictures of them somewhere and can get more information from family members back home. There is one red and one white wine bottle, both with the same label. The labels are rather worn around the edges BUT still clearly legible. Thanks...
12-05-2008 @ 10:52PM
Allen Bishop said...
I have a collection of vacuum tubes including high power transmitting types, x-ray tubes, photon detectors, subminiture transmitting and recieving types, and other very unusual varieties including carbon filiment Thomas Edison lights. I also collect a very large quantity of unusual electronic componets and devices. I collect moderately to extreamly valuable faceted semi-precious to extreamly precious gemstones. I have a large collection of kites from simple single line kites to 16 meter kite boarding kites. I have a large collection of Datsun 280Z car parts after building a 1978 show car painted pearl color change lime green to maple leaf orange. I also have a collection of PC Gamer magazines with CD's and DVD's from the first to present day. I have other collections but these are my best.
Reply
12-06-2008 @ 12:35AM
aefweston said...
Most people don't know that 85 different issues of old German bonds that were issued between 1924 and 1930 still represent valid legal claims against their issuers and the German government of as much as $1,000,000 or more for what was originally a $1,000 bond. There is a book out now that exposes the real story about these bonds called "The German Financial Time Bomb" available on Amazon.com. Anyone with some ot those old bonds might want to check it out.
Reply
12-06-2008 @ 12:37AM
NORMA said...
yea right.
Reply
12-06-2008 @ 2:04AM
Melissa said...
I have a small collection of old coins. I have two Indian head pennies one is 1868, and the other 1906. I have a silver half dollar coin with the split liberty bell on back. A dime with wings on the mans head etc. If anyone know where I can go to put them up for auction, or if you know anyone who wants to buy please let me know. Thank you much!
Reply
12-06-2008 @ 3:17PM
CRAIG said...
Melissa; I have a collection about like yours, some of which were passed down from my dad. Unforunatly, they're not really worth much unless they're mint or proof coins. If you sell them, it will be to someone like ourselves, because they won't bring much more than small change. They just don't bring the bis bucks like we would like them too. I just keep mine stashed away, maybe one day they'll be worth something to someone.
12-06-2008 @ 6:58AM
Buck said...
Melissa, you can sell those coins on e-bay. You should expect to get between $8-$12 for the group, unless your picture shows them to be in EXTREMELY good condition, or the dime or half is a specific date/mint mark that is very rare. Otherwise, their main value is the silver content.
Reply
12-06-2008 @ 7:39AM
Charlie O said...
45 & 78 RPM records, Glasses from 80 or more wineries, and tokens/chips from 80 plus casinos. Anyone interested
Reply
12-07-2008 @ 12:02PM
Terry said...
To Charlie O and anyone else that has old 45 and 78 records
I tried to sell some of mine which were in perfect condition.
One dealer said he could only give me 2 dollars for each of them. I had checked many dealers lists ane found they resale these records for top dollar.. I intend to keep mine until I find someone in the family that will love them as I do.
I heard alot of dealers go to the salvation army and other thrift shops looking for old records.
12-06-2008 @ 11:54AM
David said...
What kind of casino chips do you have available? What casino are they from and what denominations, age? Please let me know. thanks. David
12-06-2008 @ 8:03AM
steve said...
Well I buy for auction galleries. Feel free to contact me if you are a "true" collector and I might be able help you find treasures for your collection. By the way I have a collection of a few thousand records albums and 45's from the 50's to the 70's......ANy interest in that?
Reply
12-06-2008 @ 8:10AM
katrina said...
My husband has a collection of easy rider mag's. He got them from a friend who passed away...and that guy collected them from day one.....wonder how much they are worth? It interesting reading them and seeing all the changes. Not too much has changed from the cloths, very little skin being shown and not too many tat's. so it's pretty cool to dig those out every once in a while.
Reply
12-06-2008 @ 8:20AM
tagsale525 said...
I am a collector as well as a peddler at heart. I have many items for sell..Anyone interested in a cabbabe patch doll with all Barbie clothing, new in the box ?
Reply