Treasure or trash? Why 20 million Brits are banking on their collections

Move over stocks and shares—Britain’s latest investment obsession is hiding in the attic.

We commissioned a brand new survey, revealing that a third of Brits (that’s 20 million people!) are currently collectors, amassing everything from rare coins to Pokémon cards. And they’re not just doing it for the nostalgia—the average collection is worth £2,404, with collectors believing it could triple in value over the next 25 years.

In fact, rare coins have taken the crown as the UK’s most collected item, followed by stamps and jewellery. But when it comes to what people think will rake in the big bucks, rare vinyl records spin into first place as the top future earner.

1. Rare Coins
2. Stamps
3. Jewellery
4. Watches
5. Vintage Toys & Action Figures
6. Comic Books
7. Sports Memorabilia
8. Handbags
9. Sports Cards
10. Pokémon Cards

1. Rare Vinyl Records
2. Vintage Watches
3. Rare Whiskey & Wine
4. High-End Jewellery
5. Signed First Edition Books
6. Sports Memorabilia
7. Designer Handbags
8. Rare Pokémon & Trading Cards
9. Limited-Edition Sneakers
10. Cryptocurrency Cold Wallets

With 71% of collectors influenced by pop culture and media, today’s quirky collectable could be tomorrow’s goldmine. It’s a fascinating blend of passion and profit, and increasingly, Brits are seeing collecting not just as a hobby, but a savvy alternative investment strategy.

The information provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult with a licensed financial adviser or professional before making any financial decisions. Your financial situation is unique, and the information provided may not be suitable for your specific circumstances. We are not liable for any financial decisions or actions you take based on this information.

It’s some of life’s cheapest entertainment that has gone on to be some of the most expensive items, with things such as comic books and playing cards selling for huge sums as collectors look to own the rarest editions.

In 2022, an original copy of Superman #1 (where we first meet Superman) sold for a staggering £4.3 million, when you consider that it initially sold for a mere 10p in 1939, you don’t need supervision to see that this is a huge leap in value. The difference in value is largely down to how rare an item it is – fewer than 100 copies still exist, with many of them in poor condition due to their age. The copy sold in our example was described as being in ‘pristine’ condition, with the owner clearly knowing the value of what they held in their hands. Even in okay condition, it’s likely that if you own a copy of Superman #1, you’re sitting on one of the most valuable comics in existence.

Other comics have also done well, with Amazing Fantasy #15 going for £2.9 million having originally cost only pocket money. The low starting cost of vintage comic books means that the average interest rate can reach an astronomical 433,278.11% AER!

Printed pictures of an even smaller size also go for big money. A baseball trading card featuring Honus Wagner, who made his name way back in 1909, was first listed in auction in 1993 for £37. Still a lot for a trading card, you might think. Well, that was nothing compared to the price it later sold for, bringing in a staggering £5.9 million, which is the equivalent of a 7,374,999,900% increase. You could say this card was a home run.

Sport of a different kind pays off too. Pokemon cards, in particular 1st editions, are some of the rarest around. A 1st edition Pikachu sold at auction for £3.5 million, well exceeding its 1999 price of £2.50 for ten cards.

Watches have, for a long time, been items of high value, and certain brands cost more than most. A Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime in Steel would set you back £2,000,000 when it was first sold, but as of 2019, its price tag had grown! With an auction sale of £24,000,000 we’re not sure we’d ever feel safe putting it on our wrist, let alone wearing it outside.

If your budget won’t stretch quite that far, a Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona once sold for £14,000,000 having initially cost a very reasonable £120 back in 1968. Time to check the back of the drawers, we think.

Got any old bottles of whiskey lying around? They can sell for incredible prices, with some bottles going for over a million due to their age and heritage. After being aged in a single sherry cask for six decades, just 40 bottles of The Macallan 1926 were bottled in 1986, representing the oldest Macallan vintage ever produced - perhaps this is why one sold at auction in 2023 for close to £2.2 million.

Not all whiskey pays off though – tests recently showed that a collection of bottles valued at £635,000 were all found to be fake, leaving the owner with an unexpected sour taste in their mouth.

Cars are already a big-ticket item, and it could take some time for them to pay you back. Unless you are ready to invest big bucks in true rarities. A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which sold originally for £29,000 in 1955 recently sold at auction for a record £187,000,000. While some models, such as a 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo, have doubled their original £58,376 value to £117,259, other cars have aged without growing as much in price.

A 1980 Austin/ MG Metro would sell at around £3,000 forty years ago, and despite being a classic on the roads, is now only worth £5,000. The time and expense you have to put into keeping a car roadworthy could make motors an investment of both money and effort that will simply never pay off.

The games that brought you joy in your childhood could bring you a considerable payout now. The original Super Mario Bros for NES has substantially increased in value, with a version still in the shrink wrap selling for a whopping £1.5 million, while a 1996 Super Mario 64 sold for £1.2 million since releasing in the mid-nineties, with the titular characters going on to define a generation of virtual fun.

There are smaller profits to be made in gaming too. A limited edition of the first release of World of Warcraft would have cost you £60 in 2004, but could now bring home £568, or upwards of £3,000 if you’ve left it unopened.

While collectibles can deliver surprising returns, they’re often unpredictable and illiquid (try selling a 1980s Star Wars figure at short notice!). That’s why smart savers are also parking their money somewhere a little more stable.

With Raisin UK, you can grow your savings with market-leading interest rates—no rare coins required. Whether you’re saving for retirement, a rainy day, or just trying to outpace inflation, we make it easy to compare and open fixed rate savings bonds, notice accounts and easy access savings accounts across a wide range of partner banks.