10 ‘Worthless’ Collectibles That Actually Sell for a Small Fortune

Before you toss those old boxes in the attic, you might want to dig through them first. Items you’d never think twice about, including Snapple caps, McDonald’s Halloween buckets, and forgotten kitchen novelties, are now commanding serious money from collectors. That dusty clutter gathering cobwebs over your head could be worth a small fortune.

While not every collectible sells for big bucks, the right pieces in the right condition could make extra money on the side to pad your savings, from beloved brands to holiday nostalgia.

Here are 10 surprisingly low-key collections that could be worth more than you’d think.

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Rubber ducks

Collector Charlotte Lee didn’t set out to break records. She just wanted a few ducks to decorate her home in an endeavor that’s now ballooned to more than 5,600 unique rubber ducks.

Her collection includes vintage and brand-new items, as well as special edition items from renowned brands.

When in mint condition, some rubber duckies could sell for up to $100 a piece on auction sites like eBay, helping you eliminate some money stress. 

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Snapple caps

Between 2002 and 2023, Snapple printed 1,677 “Real Facts” on the underside of their bottle caps. Now that metallic caps have been phased out, collectors are scrambling.

According to Mashed, these Snapple caps have become coveted collectibles. Some of the oldest ones with rare facts could fetch hundreds of dollars on eBay.

Vintage McDonald’s Halloween buckets

Remember McBoo, McPunk’n, and McGoblin? Those McDonald’s Happy Meal Halloween buckets from the late ’80s and early ’90s are now cult classics.

Complete sets from 1990 have sold for $85 to $130, while rare advertising displays from the same era have fetched over $200.

Even modern reissues have potential resale value, if you are able to nab one.

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Rare Starbucks mugs and tumblers

The Starbucks collectible craze is real and potentially lucrative. From international mug series to high-end collabs, Starbucks cups have become serious business.

A 2020 Swarovski x Starbucks holiday tumbler recently sold for $855, while older cityscape mugs from Tokyo and Bangkok routinely fetch over $600 on eBay. Limited runs, global exclusives, and collabs like Stanley x Starbucks are especially in demand.

Vintage travel souvenir plates

Souvenir plates, especially from mid-century road trips, are increasingly sought after. Detailed decal or transferware plates from the 1950s and 1960s with state or city landmarks are especially popular.

These collectibles typically sell for $10 to $50 each, depending on their size, condition, and design. Plates made by known manufacturers like Vernon Kilns or Wedgwood, or those with hand-painted details, often command higher prices.

Souvenir spoons

Sterling silver souvenir spoons, especially those from the 19th and early 20th century, could sell for more than $60 each at auction.

Key value factors include material, condition, age, and any maker’s marks. If you’ve inherited a dusty box of travel spoons, don’t just leave them at Goodwill. They may be worth polishing and listing on eBay.

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Old coffee tins

Antique coffee tins are now among the most sought-after advertising ware on the collector’s market. Produced as early as the 1800s, coffee tins come in all shapes, sizes, and lid styles with iconic logos and color graphics to boost brand recognition and loyalty.

Ornate cans could sell from $150 to over $1,000, while plain ones go for $75 to $150. Many are in rough shape, so condition matters. Undented, rust-free, and unfaded tins are likely to fetch top dollar.

Rare playing cards

Playing cards aren’t just for poker night or kitsch, hotel-shop gifts. There’s a slow yet steady demand for playing cards on the collector’s market. Rare decks are seeing annual appreciation gains of up to 3.8%.

Given these modest gains, you may not want to start investing in cards. But if you do inherit a stash of 500 decks, they could be worth $5 to $35 a pack on eBay.

According to The World of Playing Cards, lower-cost “standard” decks deliver better returns for collectors than pricey limited editions.

Hallmark ornaments

Hallmark ornaments are either a hit or a miss, but the right ornament could be worth some extra cash. On Reddit, one eBay seller reports buying 1,200 ornaments for $1,200 and selling 90% of them over the course of a year, making over $15,000 in profit. However, another seller claims they only sell a few each week.

Timing, seasonality, condition, and desirability all matter. Patience seems key if you want to maximize your returns, and connecting with other Hallmark fans on social media may help.

Beanie Babies

Time to go through your kid’s childhood stash of Beanie Babies. While we’re well past the peak frenzy, many still command hundreds of dollars.

In recent eBay sales, top-priced Beanie Babies have sold for $700 to $7,000 apiece. And if you’ve got money to burn, you could purchase a brand-new, 1997 Princess Diana Beanie Baby for a cool $1 million, or best offer.

Bottom line

That dusty bin of odds and ends in your basement may hold more than just clutter. From rubber duckies to Snapple caps and souvenir spoons, ordinary stockpiles of items amassed over the years may now have serious cash value.

Sorting through your stash is a smart way to declutter and make cash on the side.

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Calista Headrick leads our jobs and lifestyle content, writing and editing nearly 600 articles for FinanceBuzz. You can find her sharing thoughts on real estate, travel hacks, smart shopping, and the seemingly always unpredictable job market. She brings firsthand financial experience to her work and is proud that her personal budgeting system has helped her save a six-month emergency fund. In other words, Calista brings real-world know-how into guidance readers can actually use.