Thanks for reading The Attic Update - weekly insights from the world of rare coins, sports cards, collector cars, vintage watches, and more -
Welcome to all new subscribers - Let’s get started!
The Attic Top 5 -
1 - Rare Coins -
News of the Week - A collection of Standing Liberty Quarters is now accepting offers at David Lawrence Rare Coins. The 26 graded coins from the Skyline Drive Collection will be auctioned individually, with prices ranging from $150 to $5,000.
Favorite Video of the Week - More than 3 million U.S. quarters are struck at the Mint in Philadelphia every single day! Check out this video on the making of the U.S. quarter.
Deal of the Week - Call me crazy, but I'm considering buying a couple rolls of well-circulated Liberty Nickels. For just 25 bucks on eBay, you get a roll of 40 beauties in a protective plastic tube.
Random Thought of the Week - I saw a terrifying tweet this week - a pile of graded coins for sale that were all completely fake. The tweet claimed they were from China, and nearly perfect counterfeit slabbed coins. Be careful out there buying graded coins! Here's a reminder from NGC to always verify authenticity before you buy.
Featured Company - Check out Great Southern Coins, a leader in rare U.S. coin buying and selling.
2 - Sports Cards -
News of the Week - I'm always checking out Ryan Cracknell's weekly HOT/COLD list over at Beckett. This week - Jalen Hurts, Connor McDavid, and 2023 Topps Series 1 Baseball cards are heating up. On the cold list - Ben Simmons, Zach Wilson, and Russell Westbrook.
Favorite Video of the Week - You hear these stories a couple times a year - a huge stache of old baseball cards hidden for decades and finally discovered. Pat the NES Punk breaks down "Uncle Jimmy's" baseball card collection worth millions uncovered in the attic.
Deal of the Week - Everyone knows I'm a big 'Dmitri Young Collection' fan. I would love to get my hands on a few rookie cards from the once-greatest rookie card collection ever assembled - then auctioned off, one-by-one. The Griffey Upper Deck Dmitri Young Rookie is listed on eBay right now. How much? Current price is set at $100,000. Let's see if this thing actually sells - I'm taking the under, but damn, what a sweet card.
Random Thought of the Week - Here's a question for modern-day card collectors. Is it even necessary to slab new cards anymore? Compared to old vintage cards, modern cards are almost indestructible and perfectly printed without flaws. Old cards were made from cardboard, the corners dinged from just looking at them. Centering was always jacked up. And they were packaged with actual GUM stuck to them. Isn't every modern card a "10" straight out of the pack?? Just thinking out loud, please correct me if I'm off base here!
Featured Company - Check out BCW - your one-stop shop for sports card storage and displays.
3 - Collector Cars -
News of the Week - Singer Adam Levine is suing a classic car dealer for selling a fake Maserati. Levine realized the car was fake when he tried to re-sell it, and learned the car he thought he was selling, already existed elsewhere with the same VIN number. Levine traded two Ferraris worth $850,000 and $100,000 cash to Rick Cole, for what Cole said, was a rare 1971 Maserati Ghibli Spyder.
Favorite Video of the Week - These RoCars videos are absolutely sick. Check out this insane McLaren 720S Galaxy by ZACOE Performance. Skip directly to 1:12 of the video to get right to the engine start-up.
Deal of the Week - The 1991 Land Rover Defender I mentioned last week at $5,500 on Bring A Trailer - is now up to $21,000 with one day to go. Any guesses as to what the final sale price will be?? Is it over or under 25k? - UPDATE - this rig just sold for a final sale price of $50,500 !!
Random Thought of the Week - The Hagerty Market Rating for collector cars has dropped 5 months in a row. But 2022 saw huge price gains. Is this the start of a big bust, or just a blip? The Amelia Island Auction begins March 2nd, which is a great indicator of the overall thirst for high-end cars. Let's keep our eyes peeled for pricing signals.
Featured Company - Check out Cars & Bids - your online marketplace for all car enthusiasts.
4 - Vintage Watches -
News of the Week - If there's breaking Casio G-Shock news, you know I'll be talking about it here. The epic and legendary Casio G-Shock will be released in a new full-metal design with a yellow-gold hue and an octagonal bezel. I'm all in.
Favorite Video of the Week - Want to see every single watch ever worn by James Bond? Here ya go! Twelve minutes of Bond watch history - complete with subtitles naming each watch as it appears.
Deal of the Week - In celebration of the new Casio G-Shock release, here's your deal of the week. The all-metal stainless steel B5000 Casio G-Shock. Beautiful watch, and drive your car over it, it's indestructible. Selling on eBay right now for 100 bucks. If you don't own a Casio G-Shock, what are you even doing?
Random Thought of the Week - It seems there are almost as many online watch retailers - as there are watches. With a hot, new online watch marketplace popping up every single week. Who do you trust? Who's your go-to watch shop that has never let you down? I'd like to know the best of the best online watch retailer out there. Please leave your recommendation if you have one.
Featured Company - Check out Ultra-Vintage, watch repair and restoration experts.
5 - Memorabilia & Collectibles
News of the Week - The jersey Joe Montana wore for "The Drive" during Super Bowl XXIII sold for $1.2 million at a Goldin auction this week. It was the same jersey Montana wore for Super Bowl XIX four years earlier. A rare game-worn jersey with two Super Bowl victories.
Favorite Video of the Week - Check out these hardcore arrowhead hunters! The YouTube Channel is called "Heartbreaker Relics." Watch the boys uncover a rare arrowhead as they are barely able to control their emotions!
Deal of the Week - 30-year-old original manuscript of 'Snow Crash' heading to auction. The now-infamous book by Neal Stephenson first coined the term "metaverse" and "avatar." Sotheby's expects the manuscript to sell for $50,000 to $60,000.
Random Thought of the Week - At any given moment, there are more than 1.7 billion items for sale on eBay. Almost anything can and has been sold on the auction site. From a grilled cheese sandwich to the meaning of life, to an entire town in California - all sold on eBay. But what was the very first sale? It was a broken laser pointer bought by Mark Fraser for $14.83. Sold by company founder Pierre Omidyar.
Featured Company - Sideshow Collectibles specializes in licensed and original life-like creations from the world of pop culture, T.V., and movies.
Featured Article -
Collecting Movies and Physical Media -
One of the most overlooked niches and biggest opportunities in the collecting world might be right in front of your face.
Quote from the Legends -
“Know what you own, and know why you own it.” — Peter Lynch
I’m guessing Peter Lynch was talking about stocks when he made this statement, but it applies to collecting as well. I’m constantly reminding myself to focus on quality over quantity.
Question for You -
What collectibles & alternative assets would you like more discussion about next week? Rare War Era Nickels? Limited Edition Lamborghinis? How about 1987 Topps baseball cards?? Let’s hear your favorites.
Do you want your company to be featured in this newsletter? Reach out and let me know!
Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful week!