15 Things from the 1970s Worth a Ton of Money
The 1970s gave us some of the most iconic and unique collectibles, many of which have since skyrocketed in value. Whether it’s a rare comic, a vintage action figure, or a piece of musical history, the items from this decade have earned their place in collector’s circles — and their price tags reflect that. From a bottle of wine sitting untouched in a basement for decades to a first-edition vinyl album by David Bowie, these are some of the decade’s most valuable players.
1. 1970 Batman Comic #227
Sold for: $19,200
Batman #227, released in December 1970, is a beloved issue among collectors — not just for its story, but for its iconic cover. The artwork, created by Neal Adams, pays homage to a classic Detective Comics #31 cover from 1939, with Batman looming ominously over a gothic castle with his billowing cape. Highly graded copies of this classic are worth the most.
2. 1970 Donruss Odder Odd Rods Wax Box
Sold for: $7,200
The 1970 Donruss Odder Odd Rods Wax Box is a nostalgic gem for collectors of vintage non-sports trading cards. Packed with quirky charm, the set features vibrant, cartoonish depictions of outrageous hot rods with exaggerated engines, monster drivers, and plenty of humorous details. Continuing the popular Odd Rods series, this release blended the era’s love for muscle cars with wacky, over-the-top illustrations. Each wax box originally contained 24 packs. Today, these boxes are highly sought after and incredibly valuable.
3. 1978 Atari Space Invaders Game
Sold for: $9,600
The 1978 Atari Space Invaders game is one of the most legendary video games of all-time. Developed by Tomohiro Nishikado, this iconic shooter game challenged players to defend Earth from rows of descending alien invaders, using a laser cannon to destroy them before they reached the ground — the good old days of straightforward gaming. The game’s simple yet addictive mechanics, pixelated graphics, and suspenseful sound effects made it an instant hit. When Atari brought Space Invaders to its 2600 console in 1980, it became the first-ever arcade-to-home console adaptation, boosting console sales and cementing the game’s place in pop culture history.
4. 1979 Kenner Star Wars Rocket-Firing Boba Fett Action Figure
Sold for: $1.3 million
The 1979 Kenner Star Wars Rocket-Firing Boba Fett action figure is one of the most legendary collectibles in the toy world, renowned for its rarity and the intrigue surrounding its production. Originally intended as a mail-away promotion tied to “The Empire Strikes Back,” the figure was designed to feature a spring-loaded rocket launcher. However, due to safety concerns over the potential choking hazard, Kenner scrapped the firing mechanism before it reached mass production. Only a handful of prototypes exist today, making it a holy grail for collectors.
5. 1971 Topps Johnny Bench Baseball Card
Sold for: $42,000
The 1971 Topps Johnny Bench baseball card is not only a piece of sports history but also a valuable gem in the world of card collecting. Its value stems from several factors, including Bench’s Hall of Fame career, the popularity of the 1971 Topps set, and the condition-sensitive black borders that make high-grade examples exceptionally rare. Cards graded in mint or gem-mint condition by services like PSA can fetch thousands of dollars at auction.
6. 1979 Rolex Sea-Dweller “Great White”
Sold for: $23,750
Nicknamed the “Great White” because of the all-white text on its dial, the 1979 Rolex Sea-Dweller marked a transitional phase in the Sea-Dweller’s evolution. Unlike earlier versions, this dive watch didn’t have the “Submariner” designation, giving it a standalone identity in Rolex’s lineup. The water-resistant watch is the perfect vintage statement piece if you want to show off while scuba diving.
7. 1970s Muhammad Ali Heavyweight Championship Belt
Sold for: $6.18 million
The 1970s Muhammad Ali Heavyweight Championship belt, awarded after Ali’s legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” victory over George Foreman, is an unparalleled piece of sports memorabilia, marked by its hammer price of more than $6 million. This WBC belt is one of only two known to exist. Featuring intricate enamel detailing and a gold-colored metal central plate, the belt’s historical significance and rare provenance make it one of the most valuable and iconic items in boxing history.
8. David Bowie’s ‘Diamond Dogs’ 1974 Vinyl
Sold for: $16,250
Released as his sixth studio album, David Bowie’s “Diamond Dogs” was rooted in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world inspired by George Orwell’s “1984.” The album features some of Bowie’s most memorable tracks, including “Rebel Rebel” and “Diamond Dogs.” The original vinyl release is especially prized for its bold, striking cover art, which was famously altered before production to remove a suggestive image of Bowie’s nether regions (depicted in dog form). Today, the first pressings of Diamond Dogs with the original artwork are extremely rare and valuable.
9. Andy Warhol’s 1973 ‘Mao’ Painting
Sold for: $3.65 million
Based on a portrait of Chinese leader Mao Zedong, ‘Mao’ is part of Andy Warhol’s exploration of political figures and mass media, elevating Mao to the status of a celebrity icon through bold colors and repetitive imagery. As with other Warhol paintings, this one has a multi-million-dollar price tag tied to it.
10. 1973 Computer Space Arcade Game
Sold for: $45,600
Developed by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney — future Atari creators — Computer Space was the first commercially available arcade game. The game’s design was inspired by the early video game “Spacewar!” and featured a space combat theme where players controlled a spaceship to shoot at enemy ships. This thing is a relic in the realm of video games, with a hammer price to match.
11. 1970s Hermès Black Crocodile Handbag
Sold for: $16,900
Hermès has always been pricey, but vintage Hermès bags can go for thousands. This black crocodile hand bag is the prime example, selling for nearly $17,000 at auction.
12. 1970s Nike Moon Shoes
Sold for: $57,600
Created by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, the Moon Shoes were part of a limited run produced for the 1972 Olympic Trials, and they’re now one of the rarest, most valuable sneakers in the world. What makes these shoes so unique is their hand-made, waffle-patterned soles, which were inspired by Bowerman’s attempt to create a more durable, performance-enhancing shoe. Only about 12 pairs were ever made, making them extremely rare.
13. 1977 ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ VHS
Sold for: $23,750
When you think about what VHS tapes cost during their heyday, it’s pretty mind-boggling that vintage versions can sell for tens of thousands of dollars today. The “Star Wars” lore runs deep, though, and if you’ve got an original VHS tape of the very first film in the franchise, you could be sitting on a goldmine.
14. Frank Zappa (as Mona Lisa) 1970 Boston Tea Party Concert Poster
Sold for: $10,313
Before the days of social media tour announcements and sites like Ticketmaster, we relied on concert posters to advertise upcoming shows. Frank Zappa’s poster showing him as Mona Lisa is among the most iconic from the ’70s, and is subsequently among the most valuable, too.
15. 1970s Bottle of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche
Sold for: $106,250
We’ve all left $20 in our coat pocket and didn’t find it until the next year when the weather got cold again. It’s a nice surprise, but it’s still just $20. It doesn’t just become more valuable. A rare, forgotten bottle of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche, on the other hand, sold for more than $100,000. Mark Paulson bought the 3-liter Jeroboam bottle in the 1970s for $250 and kept it unopened in his basement for decades. Despite its exceptional rarity, Paulson never found the right occasion to open it. After learning of a similar bottle’s sale for $81,250 in 2022, he decided to auction it.