20 Nerdy Collectibles That Are Worth A Small Fortune Now
Did You Know Your Old Pokémon Cards Could Make You Millions?
You might not think much of that Final Fantasy game that's been buried in the back of your desk drawer for decades, but it could actually be a gold mine. From vintage Star Wars figures and Pokémon cards to early gaming cartridges and rare comic books, once-geeky treasures are now fetching staggering prices at auctions. Whether you’re a lifelong collector or just wondering if your childhood toy box is hiding gold, these are 20 nerdy collectibles that are now worth a small fortune.
1. Magic: The Gathering Black Lotus Card (1993)
The Black Lotus Card is the rarest Magic: The Gathering card. One sold in an auction for $540,000 in 2023, breaking records, but in 2024, the record was broken once more when one sold for a whopping $3,000,000.
2. Harry Potter First Editions (1997)
Harry Potter is the most popular book series of all time. If someone is lucky enough to have one of the initial 500 copies ever printed of the debut novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, one of them sold at an auction for $471,000 in 2021.
3. GI Joe Action Figures (1960s–80s)
A 1963 GI Joe action figure prototype owned by a former Hasbro executive sold for $200,000, making it the most expensive action figure ever sold. However, it's not just that one that's sought after: many early or special-run figures, especially from the original lineup, can fetch $10,000 or more each.
4. Illustrator Pikachu Card (1998)
Illustrator Pikachu cards were given to the winners of a promotional drawing competition in 1998. There were only 41 ever made, making them the rarest verified Pokémon card in the world. One sold in 2022 for $5.2 million, the most a Pokémon card has ever fetched.
5. Original Legend of Zelda NES Cartridge (1987)
An unopened copy of an original Legend of Zelda NES cartridge broke records when it sold for $870,000 at an auction in 2021. It's the most expensive video game ever sold.
6. Original Super Mario Bros. NES Cartridge (1986)
An original NES cartridge of the beloved Super Mario Bros. video game that was forgotten in a desk drawer for over three decades sold for $660,000 in 2021. At the time, it was the highest price a video game ever fetched, only to be surpassed later in the year by a Legend of Zelda original.
7. Atari 2600 Games - Air Raid (1982)
Air Raid was the only game released by the company Men-A-Vision for the Atari 2600 game console. It had extremely limited distribution, making it very rare and valuable. One sold in 2021 for over $33,000.
Small System Software on Wikimedia
8. Nintendo World Championships Cartridge (1990)
Only 116 Nintendo World Championships cartridges were made for a 1990 competition: 90 gray and 26 gold. A gold one sold last year for an impressive $207,000.
9. Pokémon Blue Back Topsun Charizard Card (1997)
The Blue Back Topsun Charizard card is one of the rarest and most sought-after Pokémon cards. It sold at an auction for $493,230 in 2021, making it the second most expensive Pokémon card ever sold.
10. Action Comics #1 (1938)
Action Comics #1 is where Superman made his first appearance. It sold for a record-breaking $6 million at an auction last year, the highest amount ever paid for a comic book.
11. Pokémon First Edition Holographic Charizard Card (1999)
The third most expensive Pokémon card ever sold at auction, the First Edition Holographic Charizard Card is the original English Charizard Pokémon card. It sold for $420,000 in 2022.
12. Rocket Firing Boba Fett Prototype
Considered the "holy grail" of action figures, the Rocket Firing Boba Fett Prototype sold last year for $1.34 million, making it the most expensive action figure ever sold. Not too shabby for a Star Wars character with barely four lines of dialogue in the entire trilogy.
Star Wars/Nicole Love on Wikimedia
13. Transformers Toys (1980s)
Original Transformers toys from the 1980s can fetch anywhere from $2,000 to tens of thousands. A rare Canadian variety of a 1984 Optimus Prime figure sold for over $40,000 in 2023.
Vladislav Glukhotko on Unsplash
14. Apple 1 Computer (1976)
Apple 1 computers, which originally sold for $666,66 in 1976, now fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at auctions. In 2014, an auction house in New York sold one for $905,000.
15. Marvel Trading Cards (1990s)
Marvel Trading Cards are highly sought-after collectibles, with an average selling price of $700. A 1990 Marvel Universe hologram card sold for $13,000 in 2021.
16. Final Fantasy VII Sealed Copies (1997)
One of the most beloved Final Fantasy games is also one of the most valuable PlayStation games ever sold at an auction. A copy of Final Fantasy VII in exceptionally good condition was sold for $144,000 in 2021.
17. Doctor Who Dalek (1966)
Original Doctor Who props and scripts regularly sell for stunning amounts. A 1966 Dalek (cyborg suit) sold for $50,000 in 2016, breaking records for the highest amount a piece of Doctor Who memorabilia has sold for.
Nelo Hotsuma from Rockwall on Wikimedia
18. Superman #1 (1939)
Copies of Superman #1 comics sold for around 10 cents in 1939. Now, a high-grade copy is valued at $5.3 million, making it the second most expensive comic book.
Saatchi and Saatchi. on Wikimedia
19. Captain America Comics #1 (1941)
The value of an original Captain America Comics #1 ranges from $90,000 to over $3 million, depending on the condition. The highest price one fetched at auction was $3.12 million in 2022.
20. Marvel Comics #1 (1939)
Marvel Comics #1, published by Marvel's predecessor, Timely Comics, set the foundation for the Marvel universe. One copy, which included handwritten notes by the publisher, sold for $2.42 million in 2022.
