5 Collectibles That Turned Rarity Into Millions
From rare coins and vintage trading cards to historic stamps, the world of collectibles is full of treasures that can fetch jaw-dropping prices. While it is true that one man's trash is another man's treasure, most items simply hold sentimental value or modest worth -- but some rare finds have shattered records by selling for millions at prestigious auctions.
These extraordinary pieces aren't just hobbies or a form of nerdom; they're investments and cultural artifacts that captivate collectors worldwide. Here are five of the most expensive collectibles ever sold, along with their reasons for commanding such staggering prices.
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5. 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta Stamp
Sold for: $9.48 million
Just a single copy of the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta stamp series is known to exist. A holdover from the British colonial era in what is now Guyana in South America, it entered limited production in 1856 and has been among the world's rarest and most coveted stamps for decades.
After being held privately for nearly 30 years, it was sold for $9.48 million in 2014 after the public got to see it for the first time since 1986. Having broken the price record four times, Sotheby's eventually auctioned it off for $8.31 million in 2021 -- which was less than a previous buyer had paid.
4. 1847 Mauritius 'Post Office' Stamps
Sold for: $12 million
Another one of the world's great stamps also traces its lineage to the British colonial period, this time to Mauritius off the coast of Madagascar. Originally printed in 1847, the first Mauritius series contained 1,000 one-cent stamps, 500 each in blue and red.
The printed phrase "Post Office" was changed to "Post Paid" in subsequent editions.
There are 27 known copies of the original 1,000, and the best among them were commanding more than $1 million as early as the 1970s. An original "Post Office" Mauritius took the title of the world's most valuable stamp after selling for $9.6 million in 2021.
Shortly after this, and the sale of the unique British Guiana 1856 Magenta and the United States 1918 Jenny Invert plate block, the rare cover bearing an 1847 1-penny orange Post Office stamp of Mauritius was once again sold for more than double its presale estimate, hitting $12 million.
3. 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar
Sold for: $12 million
The four factors that give coins their value are age, rarity, historical significance and condition -- and what is believed to be the first silver dollar ever struck by the United States government has all four in spades.
A "specimen" condition Flowing Hair silver dollar, one of only about 140 remaining examples from the original 1794 series, became the first coin to break the $10 million mark in 2013 before selling for $12 million in 2022.
Because of its significance as the first in the country's inaugural series of silver dollars, it's almost certain that it was viewed (and possibly handled) by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who oversaw the fledgling U.S. Mint, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and President George Washington.
2. 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle 311
Sold for: $12.6 million
In August 2022, the most pristine surviving example of an iconic 1952 Mickey Mantle card toppled the longstanding king -- Honus Wagner -- with a sale price that put the T206 to shame.
A Mantle No. 311 graded Mint+9.5 commanded an eye-popping $12.6 million the very same month that Wagner's card broke its own record at $7.25 million. Mantle 311 remains among the most expensive pieces of sports memorabilia ever sold across all categories.
1. 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle
Sold for: $18.9 million
To maintain America's gold supply during the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt ordered nearly all people and businesses to sell their gold coins and bullion to the U.S. government in 1933 so it could melt them down and hoard them.
That same year, a Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle -- one of the last gold coins ever struck for circulation in America -- somehow survived the fate of the rest. In 2021, it became the queen of all coins and collectibles, in general, when it sold for nearly $19 million. It remains the only Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle that is legal to own -- if you can afford it.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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