Anyone born in or before the 1960s knows that this time was a golden age for bargains. So many everyday items that seemed ordinary at the time have now transformed into a goldmine worth a small fortune. If you’ve ever wondered what treasures might be hiding in your attic or garage, here’s a look at just a few things that people snagged for cheap in the ’60s but are priceless today.
Vinyl Records
Back in the ’60s, vinyl records were in almost every household staple, costing just a few bucks at most. Fast-forward to today, and rare albums, like The Beatles’ White Album or Bob Dylan’s The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, can bring in thousands of dollars if they’re in good condition.
Comic Books
If you were a kid in the ’60s, you could easily grab a comic book for a dime or quarter, but today those same issues are worth a small fortune. For example, Amazing Fantasy #15 (Spider-Man’s debut) and The Incredible Hulk #1 are incredibly valuable, often selling for tens of thousands of dollars at auction.
However, it’s important to note that condition is everything in the comic world, so those well-worn copies won’t go for as much.
Barbie Dolls
Most people know that Barbies were all the rage in the ’60s, and the original dolls retailed for just a few dollars. Today, early editions, especially the 1959 “Number One Barbie” or special releases like the 1960s Twist ‘n Turn Barbie, can command thousands if they’re in good condition and still in their original packaging.
Vintage Lunchboxes
A metal lunchbox may seem like a strange choice today, but back in the day, these lunchboxes, often featuring a favorite TV show or character were a staple for kids. While they originally cost just a few dollars, rare designs like the Star Trek or The Jetsons lunchboxes can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars to collectors today.
Coca-Cola Memorabilia
It’s easy to forget just how long Coca-Cola has been around. The brand started releasing collectibles many decades ago, such as glass bottles and promotional trays. While these were common giveaways in the ’60s, now, vintage
Coke items, particularly those with limited runs or unique designs, are priceless to collectors. Rare advertising signs can even go for thousands at auctions.
First-Edition Books
Those books that seemed like everyday buys in the ’60s may be worth far more than you’d expect today. First editions of classic works like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee or Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut are highly valued, with pristine copies selling for thousands of dollars.
Baseball Cards
Back in the 1960s, kids collected baseball cards for fun and traded them without a second thought. People may still collect and trade those same cards today but for much higher prices. Now, rare cards like the 1968 Nolan Ryan rookie card or the 1961 Mickey Mantle are worth thousands.
LEGO Sets
It’s hard to imagine a time without LEGO today, but back in the ’60s, the brand was just starting to gain popularity and the sets were relatively affordable. And yet today, vintage sets, particularly those in their original boxes, are worth huge money. Early sets from themes like Town Plan or trains are especially priceless to enthusiasts.
Concert Posters
Posters that were made to promote concerts for legendary acts like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, or Jimi Hendrix were commonly handed out for free or sold for pennies back in the day. But now, these psychedelic artworks are now considered highly collectible art, with original posters frequently fetching thousands of dollars at auctions.
Tonka Trucks
If you wanted a durable toy for your kid in the ‘60s, Tonka trucks were the go-to, especially as you could buy them for just a few dollars. But you might be surprised to hear that today, those same trucks, especially rare models in good condition, can sell for hundreds.
Pez Dispensers
Pez dispensers are still around today, so you may think that even old ones wouldn’t be very valuable. But those same little throwaway collectibles for kids in the ’60s are highly valuable to collectors today.
Characters from that era, like the astronaut or the Santa Claus dispenser, are now worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Mid-Century Modern Furniture
While now considered iconic, mid-century modern furniture by designers like Eames or Herman Miller was still relatively affordable in the ’60s. These same pieces are now considered high-end collectibles, with some fetching tens of thousands of dollars at auctions or vintage shops.
Pyrex Dishes
There was nothing particularly special about our old Pyrex dishes in the ‘60s, but they were certainly a kitchen staple. And yet today, certain patterns, like “Pink Daisy” or “Gooseberry,” have become highly collectible and can sell for hundreds or even thousands for complete sets in good condition.
Vintage Advertising Signs
If you were alive in the ‘60s, you’ll know that metal and porcelain advertising signs for gas stations or diners were everywhere. These signs were often seen as annoying junk back in the day, but now, many of these signs are valuable collectibles.
Matchbox Cars
Your old Matchbox cars may have been invaluable to you as a ‘60s child, but you could buy them for next to nothing. Today, though, original cars from the 1960s, especially rare models or those in their original boxes, are now highly collectible and can easily sell for hundreds, if not thousands.
Vintage Watches
People go wild for brands like Rolex and Seiko today, but you may be surprised to know that they were considered attainable luxury items in the ’60s, costing far less than they do now. Those same watches, particularly limited editions or unique designs, are now worth tens of thousands of dollars to some collectors.
Vinyl Chairs and Lamps
Despite how trendy space-age furniture and lighting, like molded plastic chairs or globe lamps, were in the ‘60s, they could be picked up for a very affordable price. Today, these pieces are prized by collectors for their retro design, with some fetching thousands of dollars at vintage shops.
Disneyland Memorabilia
It seems like the Disney craze will never die out, so it should come as no surprise that old Disneyland maps, tickets, or souvenir figurines are considered highly collectible and valuable today, with certain items selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars today.