If you’re still feeling the pinch from the festive season and counting down the minutes until pay day, it might be worth having a rummage in the back of your cupboard.
Experts have revealed the unlikely objects that could help you rake in a fortune online, and combined they are worth thousands of pounds.
Whether it’s Lego or a dusty old bottle of booze, when it comes to flogging your collectibles, the results can be surprisingly lucrative.
Here, collectibles expert Mark Borgman reveals the most valuable items you already own – as well as the items to snap up in 2018 to make a return in the future.
Do you have one of these in your attic? The 7,541 piece Star Wars Millennium Falcon can now be seen selling online for over $1500 (£1,080) and upwards
1. Children’s toys
‘Last year, as well as continuing a successful film series, LEGO was named the most powerful brand in the world, beating the likes of Google and Nike to the top spot,’ explains Mark, who works for online auction site Catawiki.
‘However, it’s not just the brand name that has been taking off; values for some LEGO sets have also been soaring. Alongside this other toys, such as Digimon Tamagotchis, have been hitting headlines recently for selling for hundreds of pounds online.’
Mark’s top tips: ‘Recent examples of LEGO sets selling for huge profits include the 7,541 piece Star Wars Millennium Falcon. This launched last year for $800 (£576) and quickly sold out.
‘It can now be seen selling online for $1500 (£1,080) and upwards. Other toys, like tin models also continue to be popular among collectors.
‘The high quality offerings from companies such as Marklin, Schuco, Bing and TippCog – who were making toys over 50 years ago – are only likely to rise in value.’
2. Whiskies
A rare bottle of Bowmore 1973 whisky is up for sale on Catawiki and expected to fetch up to £5,790. Big brand names are also a reliable place to invest, according to Mark
Rare whiskies have begun to outstrip even popular investments, such as gold, in their value and potential return. After a number of strong years, The Rare Whisky Apex 1000 – which measures the value of 1,000 of the rarest, most sought after bottles of whisky, grew by over 40 per cent last year.
Mark’s top tips: ‘Watch for bottles from closed distilleries, often called ‘silent distilleries’; given bottles from these distilleries are finite in number they make for particularly strong investments.
‘Big brand names are also a reliable place to invest: Macallan, Bowmore and Glenmorangie for example.
‘As a general rule, Scotch is always safe – however, do not discount Japanese Whisky – two big names to look out for are Nikka and Suntory.’
3. Limited edition and rare coins
Limited edition coins could help you rake in thousands; a Beatrix Potter 150th anniversary 50p coin like this one is currently on sale on Catawiki and is expected to fetch up to £430
Rare coins are one of the best collectible investments to make. However, it may be that you already have some rarities jangling around in your pocket change. In 2018, the Sir Isaac Newton 50p is already causing a stir in collecting circles as just 375 have been minted, and some have been valued at as much as £100.
Mark’s top tips: ‘While the Royal Mint has just recently announced the latest collectible £2s – featuring a range of commemorations related to topics such as the First World War and the suffragette movement – many coins already in circulation can fetch 100s of times their face value at auction.
The Kew Gardens 50p piece, for example, sells for up to £100. One reason to put down the contactless card and stick to old fashioned pocket change!’
4. Common classic cars
Collecting classic luxury cars has been a hobby of the rich and famous for years. However, less well known are the classic common cars that are starting to sell for a fortune. In other words, the Ford Fiesta is the new Ferrari (providing you have a 1970s original in good condition).
The Sir Isaac Newton 50p coin is already causing a stir as just 375 have been minted
Mark’s top tips: ‘While original Mini Coopers have always been a top collectors item, it’s worth keeping your eye on models that are going out of production. Land Rover, for example, discontinued their iconic Defender line, and since doing so prices for the model have skyrocketed. Catawiki hosts weekly auctions of classic cars, curated by motoring experts, for you to find a set of wheels that could drive a profit.’
5. Art
Art auctions broke records in 2017 with Leonardo Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi smashing sales records with an auction price of $450 million (£324 million). However, that does not mean that you need to wait 500 years for a piece of art to rocket in price. Work from the more modern New Yorkers, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, has also broken the $100 million (£721 million) mark at auction.
Mark’s top tips: ‘Keep an eye on the latest in street art and emerging talents – for example, street artists such as Mr. Brainwash. Snapping up the work of an unknown aspiring artist online could make for a hefty retirement fund down the line.’