Top 10 Most Expensive Card in the World 2024

Welcome to our blog! Today, we’re counting down the biggest-selling, most expensive card in the world. My name is Jeff Wilson. By day, I invest in tech companies, and by night, I invest in sports cards. Join me and my team as we help you profit from the hobby we all love. You are about to see some absolutely incredible holy-grail cards that have sold for millions of dollars.

A complete set of 2009 National Treasures basketballs sold for $3.3 million. Yes, it was one of the biggest card sales in history and would have made our top 10 list if it were a single card. However, this was not a single card but a complete set, brokered by PWCC in January 2022.

It is a 112-card set of National Treasures Basketball that includes the RPAs (Rookie Patch Autos) from players like Steph Curry, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Blake Griffin, and Jrue Holiday, among many others. Each of these cards individually is extremely rare and valuable, but when packaged together as a complete set, the price tag reaches $3.3 million for this incredible 2009 National Treasures Basketball set.

Two other honorable mentions are the 2009 Steph Curry National Treasures One of One Rookie Logoman and the 1914 Babe Ruth card. The valuation of both would have put them on this list, but they weren’t bought in full. Alt purchased 51% of the Curry Logoman at a valuation of $5.9 million, and Collectable offered the 1914 Babe Ruth as a fractionalized asset at a valuation of over $6 million.

10. Honus Wagner T206 (PSA 3)

• Price : $3.25 million
• Sale Date: October 2020
• Sale Method: Private sale by Mile High Card Company
• Significance: One of the hobby’s most iconic and rare cards, only about 50 are believed to exist.
• Interesting Fact: Wagner demanded his card be pulled from circulation, likely due to concerns about compensation or the use of his image.

In the number 10 spot is Honus Wagner and his famous T206 card in PSA 3 condition. This card sold for $3.25 million in a private sale brokered by Mile High Card Company in October 2020. The T206 is considered one of the hobby’s most iconic sets, and Honus Wagner’s T206 is especially rare, with only about 50 believed to have been distributed to the public. Wagner demanded his card be pulled from circulation.

No one is exactly sure why, but common stories include that he felt inadequately compensated for his image, disliked tobacco, or didn’t want tobacco cards marketed to children.

9. Honus Wagner T206 (PSA 3)

• Price: $3.7 million
• Sale Date: December 2020
• Sale Method: Private sale to Kurt Rappaport through Heritage Auctions
• Interesting Fact: This card previously sold for $3.25 million just two months earlier.

In the number 9 spot, guess what? It’s the exact same Honus Wagner card, later resold for even more money. This card in PSA 3 condition, originally sold in October 2020 for $3.25 million, was later resold for $3.7 million to real estate magnate Kurt Rappaport in a private sale through Heritage Auctions in December 2020. It seems every time one of these Honus Wagner cards sells, the price just goes up.

8. Honus Wagner T206 (PSA 2)

• Price: $3.75 million
• Sale Date: May 2021
• Sale Method: Goldin Auctions
• Condition: PSA 2
• Interesting Fact: Despite lower condition, it fetched a higher price due to its rarity and iconic status.

In the number 8 and 7 spots, we have a tie with another Honus Wagner card and a Wayne Gretzky card that set record prices. First, a Honus Wagner card in PSA 2 condition sold for $3.75 million through Goldin Auctions in May 2021. Wayne Gretzky’s 1979 O-Pee-Chee PSA 10 card also sold for $3.75 million in May 2021 through Heritage Auctions. This Wayne Gretzky is considered the most important hockey card in existence, with only two of that card in PSA 10 condition. The O-Pee-Chee version, distributed in Canada, is the most valuable and rare compared to the Topps version distributed in the United States.

7. Wayne Gretzky O-Pee-Chee Rookie (PSA 10)

6. Mike Trout Superfractor (BGS 9)

• Price: $3.9 million
• Sale Date: August 2020
• Sale Method: Goldin Auctions
• Interesting Fact: Originally purchased for $400,000 in 2018 by Vegas Dave, it became the most expensive sports card ever sold at the time.

In the number 6 spot is Mike Trout and his iconic Superfractor, the One of One from 2009 Bowman Chrome. This card, in BGS 9 condition, sold for $3.9 million in August 2020 through Goldin Auctions. At that time, it became the most expensive sports card ever sold. It was originally purchased for $400,000 by Vegas Dave in 2018. Despite being relatively young, Trout has quickly become one of Major League Baseball’s greatest players and a highly sought-after figure in the hobby.

5. Patrick Mahomes National Treasures NFL Shield Auto (BGS 8.5)

• Price: $4.3 million
• Sale Date: July 2021
• Sale Method: PWCC
• Significance: Most expensive football card ever sold.
• Interesting Fact: Mahomes himself reacted to the sale on Twitter with “My goodness.”

JUST IN: @PWCCmarketplace the 2017 National Treasures NFL Shield Patrick Mahomes Rookie Auto 1/1 BGS 8.5 card for $4.3 million, the largest football card transaction to date. The card was acquired by the Ohio-based LJ’s Card Shop. pic.twitter.com/TP2V7pprUW

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 28, 2021

In the number 5 spot, we move to football with Patrick Mahomes and his 2017 National Treasures NFL Shield Auto One of One. This holy grail card for Mahomes, in BGS 8.5 condition, sold for $4.3 million in July 2021 through PWCC, setting a new record for the most expensive football card ever sold. The previous record for a football card was $3.1 million for a Tom Brady Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket Auto, sold in March 2021.

4. Luka Dončić Logoman (One of One)

• Price: $4.6 million
• Sale Date: February 2021
• Sale Method: Private sale announced on Instagram
• Significance: Features one of the brightest young stars in basketball with an iconic set.
• Interesting Fact: Pulled out of a pack for the first time, a moment you can watch in the Hits app.

In the number 4 spot is the Luka Dončić Logoman, the 2018 Luka Dončić Logoman One of One from National Treasures. This card sold for $4.6 million in February 2021 in a private sale announced on Instagram by esteemed card collector Shine. This card features a unique combination of one of the brightest young stars in basketball with one of the most iconic sets, making it extremely valuable.

3. LeBron James Exquisite Collection RPA (BGS 9)

• Price: $5.2 million
• Sale Date: October 2021
• Sale Method: Private sale through PWCC
• Significance: One of the most premium sets with a card numbered to 23.
• Interesting Fact: Tied for the most expensive basketball card ever.

2. Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps (PSA 9)

• Price: $5.2 million
• Sale Date: February 2021
• Sale Method: Brokered by PWCC
• Significance: One of the most iconic sports cards of all time.
• Interesting Fact: Previous sale was for $2.8 million in 2018, showing significant appreciation.

Tied for the number 2 spot is LeBron James and his 2003 Exquisite Collection RPA, and Mickey Mantle with his 1952 Topps card. LeBron’s RPA, numbered to 23 and in BGS 9 condition, sold for $5.2 million in October 2021 through PWCC. This card is widely considered one of the most premium sets of all time.

The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card in PSA 9 condition was purchased for $5.2 million in February 2021 by Rob Gough in a deal brokered by PWCC. This card is considered one of the most iconic sports cards of all time, and if a PSA 10 ever hits the market, it would likely sell for tens of millions of dollars. I think you can check out this article Most Expensive Pen in the World.

1. Honus Wagner T206 (SGC 3)

• Price: $6.6 million
• Sale Date: August 2021
• Sale Method: Robert Edward Auctions
• Interesting Fact: Originally sold for just $1,100 in the early 1970s and wasn’t graded until 2012.

At the number 1 spot is Honus Wagner’s’s most expensive card in the world, with a $6.6 million sale of his T206 card in SGC 3 condition. This card was sold in August 2021 through Robert Edward Auctions. This particular example sold for just $1,100 in the early 1970s and wasn’t graded until 2012. It later sold for $1.23 million in 2012 before setting a new all-time record in 2021.

These cards are some of the rarest and most sought-after in the hobby, but you can find hundreds of thousands of other cards that are more affordable in the Sports Card Investor app. It’s free and available in the app store, providing an easy way to search for just about any card by just about any player.

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