You may have a basement or attic filled with what you believe to be junk. But you may actually be sitting on a gold mine. That’s because those busted-up boxes could be housing collectibles.

A collectible is a type of alternative investment. This means they can’t be grouped into traditional investing categories like stocks, bonds, and cash. A collectible is also defined as something that is worth far more than what it originally sold for.

Their intrinsic value relies heavily on their rarity and nostalgia factor. Think about how trading cards that originally sold for pennies end up being sold for millions. Somebody considered it that important and special to their hearts that they shelled out insane amounts of money for a piece of colorful paper.

But there are various types of collectibles. So let’s take a look at some common ones.

Trading Cards

These rely heavily on the nostalgia factor. If you’re a millennial, for example, you probably remember when Pokemon cards were all the rage. Just a few bucks could get you a pack of cards with colorful little imaginary creatures. And you loved it.

Some experts believe things run in 20-year cycles. This means things that are popular today will regain popularity 20 years later as people begin to long for reconnection with what made them happy in the past. And Pokemon stood the test of time. The highest-selling Pokemon card was a Pikachu Illustrator card that sold for $5.275 million. The buyer? None other than celebrity Logan Paul.

But flash back to the 1990s, and you may have found one in a booster pack that sold for about $10. Moreover, sports trading cards can hit some home runs in the collector’s space too.

The highest-selling baseball card is a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card that sold for $12.6 million in August 2022.

Comic Books

Comic books aren’t just child’s play. Some of the classics and rare editions have sold for millions. In fact, Amazing Fantasy #15, which introduced the world to Spider-Man, sold for $3.6 million. And Detective Comics #27 released in 1939, which launched Batman, sold for $1.5 million.

Fossils

Millions of years ago, did dinosaurs ever think they would be sold for millions of these things called dollars by beings called humans?

Probably not. But it happens. Fossils are a staple of the collector’s space.

The highest-selling fossil was the Stegosaurus skeleton, nicknamed “Apex,” which chomped up $44.6 million. It is currently on loan to the Museum of Natural History in New York.

Coins

Collectible coins derive much of their intrinsic value from their rarity.

Take the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin. One sold for $18.9 million in 2021. Why so high? Most of these coins were melted down following the 1934 Gold Reserve Act.

Another noteworthy coin is the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar. This coin—one of the first silver dollars minted in the United States—sold for $10 million in 2013.

Stamps

In the days of email, it seems like there’s not much use for postage stamps. But don’t overlook these potential gems.

The British Guiana One Cent Magenta sold for $9.48 million in 2014. This rare stamp featured a unique magenta ink error. Another notable stamp is the Treskilling Yellow of 1855, which sold for $2.6 million.

Risks of Investing in Collectibles

Like any type of investment, there are some risks of investing in collectibles.

First, you need to make sure your collectible is in mint condition in order to attract the highest bidder. Even a remotely damaged trading card or comic book could lose most or all of its value if worn. So you need to take special precautions and often incur additional costs to keep your collectibles in the best condition.

Moreover, the market may not be as liquid as you think. You need to be able to find people who are willing to pay a price for the collectible that you agree with. And if you’re buying a collectible, you would often pay a marked-up price set by the seller in order to turn a profit.

With that said, you also need to know the collector’s market. You need to be confident that the collectible would remain sought after and be valuable in the future if you expect to generate a return on your investment.

So it may behoove you to read up on the collector’s market you’re interested in and learn the pricing guides and ongoing trends. It can be very lucrative, but also extremely risky.

The Bottom Line

The collector’s market was valued at approximately $294.23 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach $422.56 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research.

It can be exciting to stumble upon a trading card or comic book worth millions of dollars. It can also be invigorating to seek out collectibles you’re passionate about, even if you don’t expect to turn a profit by selling. But the market is complex and can be highly illiquid.

You also need to be aware of forgeries. So hiring an appraiser could be helpful. In addition, you need to know the collector’s market through and through. So start doing your research.

The Epoch Times copyright © 2025. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.