10 Popular Collectibles That Aren’t Worth What They Used to Be

Selling popular collectibles could be an easy way to earn extra income, but unfortunately, many figurines, classic toys, and antiques that were once highly sought-after are not worth much these days. Popular Beanie Babies are a prime example. Collectors in the ’90s were told rare babies would be worth a small fortune down the line, but decades later, those fortunes haven’t come to fruition.

These 10 once-popular collectors’ items have seriously dipped in value.

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Princess Diana Beanie Baby

Beanie Babies in general were once thought of as fluffy gold, with collectors tripping over each other to get their hands on rare releases. The Princess Diana Beanie Baby was considered particularly valuable since the purple bear was released shortly after Diana’s tragic death in 1997.

The reality, however, is not so rich. Today, you could nab the bear in great condition with the original “Ty” tags for about $25 on eBay.

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State quarters

Estimated Market value:25 cents – $1.06

When the state quarter program first launched back in 1999, there was a lot of anticipation as new quarters were released and speculation that getting the quarters for all 50 states could be a gold mine.

However, with the exception of some rare prints (or misprints), most of these quarters are only worth, well, a quarter. Full sets in good condition typically go on eBay for about $53, bumping the per-quarter price to $1.06.

Holographic Pokémon cards

There was a mad rush to collect all the Pokémon cards in the 1999 base set released in the U.S., and while you could absolutely make serious cash today if you have the full set in mint condition or a perfectly preserved holographic Charizard, most of the cards are not worth much.

Leaving Charizard out of the conversation, the prices for holographic cards from the set, like Raichu or Venusaur, range from $10 to about $60, with most on the lower end.

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Precious Moments wedding figurines

Precious Moments figurines, the child-like porcelain figures often given to commemorate special occasions, have been touted as keepsakes for years. You may have even received one as a wedding gift from your mother or grandmother with a promise that it’ll be worth big bucks one day.

Unfortunately, they may be worth even less than their original cost. You could find many of these cutesy bride and groom figures on eBay for $20 or less.

McDonald’s Garfield mugs

In the 1980s, McDonald’s released Garfield mugs, a line of coffee mugs that featured the classic comic book cat, Garfield.

Many assumed these collector’s items would be a treasure trove down the road. But we’re a couple of decades down the road now, and the cups tend to go for around $30 on eBay if you have a set.

Vintage Cabbage Patch Kids dolls

Though Cabbage Patch Kids were all the rage in the early ’80s and beyond, even an early version of these once highly sought-after baby dolls won’t net you much in today’s resale market.

Vintage dolls from 1982, even those in excellent condition with their original outfits, tend to be listed for around $40 on eBay.

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Depression glass plates

Among fine China and glassware collectors, there is often chatter about the value of Depression-era glass, colored glass items made on the cheap during the Depression. Any value of this sort of glass, though, lies in rare colors or printings.

A run-of-the-mill Depression glass plate in popular green or amber, which you could often pick up at your local thrift shop, might net you $10 to $12 on eBay, with sets sometimes garnering a bit more.

Pogs collections

Estimated Market value: Less than $1 a piece

Pogs were a big hit in the ’90s, with collectors buying the adorned disks by the hundreds and even investing in fancy holders or display boards to keep them safe.

Despite how popular they once were, most pogs aren’t worth much today. You could buy massive bags of pogs, even those kept in good condition, for less than $1 a piece on eBay (yes, even the slammers).

Wheat pennies

Estimated Market value:10 – 20 cents

You may have heard that so-called “wheat pennies,” which feature Abraham Lincoln on the face and two wheat stalks around the “one cent” label on the back, are worth much more than their face value. While they may be worth more than one cent, they’re not worth much unless they are considered rare versions.

These pennies were minted between 1909 and 1958, and there were billions of them. You could buy a 50-cent roll on eBay for less than $10.

Vintage Hess trucks

Unless you have the original Hess truck from 1964, which buyers may be willing to shell out a few hundred bucks for on eBay, pre-owned (and most likely pre-played with) Hess trucks aren’t worth much.

Though the trucks are popular with collectors, a big payout is unlikely.

Bottom line

Cleaning out your garage and happening upon a few collectibles that you could sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars is a nice dream, particularly if you’re actively trying to lower your financial stress. But unfortunately, many items that were once huge for collectors have not retained value.

Still, there are some rarities that could net big paydays on the resale market, so if you think you have something of value, consider getting it professionally appraised before listing it.

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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.