Table of Contents

• Why Collectibles Might Be the Coolest Investment Y …

  • The Case for Collectibles: Why are they so hot rig …

    • What Even Counts as a Collectible??

    • Do Collectibles Perform Well as an Investment?

• Collectibles Investing: Is it Right for You?

• How to Invest in Collectibles 

Why Collectibles Might Be the Coolest Investment You’re Not Making Yet

A few weeks ago, history was made. Babe Ruth’s jersey from his iconic “called shot” game sold for a jaw-dropping $24 million. Yeah, you read that right. Not only does this sale break records for sports memorabilia, but it also underscores a major trend: collectibles are becoming a serious player in the world of alternative investments.

IAs more young investors seek ways to diversify their portfolios beyond traditional stocks and bonds, alternative investments like collectibles are emerging as a compelling choice. Collectibles—whether fine art, rare coins, or classic cars—not only offer financial growth but also reflect personal passions.

This week, we dive into the world of collectibles and explore how they can play a critical role in building your financial future. But here's the thing—collectibles, ranging from vintage sneakers to rare comic books, are quickly becoming the "cool kid" of the investment world. And it's not just about making money; it's about investing in the things you love.

That amount is a record for sports memorabilia - and helps highlight the opportunities of the rapidly growing world of collectibles investing. 

Here’s my personal story: In 1988, fresh out of college, a friend connected me with their relative who owned a top-tier wine shop. Growing up in a Sicilian family, I loved wine and saw it as more than a passion—I believed in its value. So, I dove in and spent my entire $20,000 savings on five cases of 1982 first-growth Bordeaux: Haut-Brion, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Latour, and Margaux. Each bottle averaged $334!

My tiny apartment couldn’t fit them, so I stored the wine in my parents' basement. A few months later, during a family meeting, I arrived to find my parents had opened a bottle of 1982 Château Margaux! Bless their hearts—they had no idea it was worth $2,000 mint. I couldn’t bring myself to explain I’d risked my savings on wine I had no room for.

It was my first hard-hitting lesson in alternative investing, thanks to my family’s generosity. But the coda: That $20,000 investment has since grown to almost $150,000. Let’s roll.

The Case for Collectibles: Why are they so hot right now?

First off, Millennials love experiences, and collectibles provide that in spades. Whether it’s the nostalgia of owning a first-edition comic book, the thrill of displaying a rare sneaker, or the satisfaction of wearing a luxury watch, collectibles are fun. But more than that, they're an investment class with serious potential.

Historically, collectibles have been seen as sentimental or just “cool to have,” but that’s changing. As more people recognize their financial upside, the value of collectibles is skyrocketing. And, just like your favorite NFTs, many of these items are scarce—making them even more desirable.

Let’s break down the reasons why collectibles are catching fire:

1. Cultural relevance: The social and cultural value of collectibles is off the charts. From rare sports jerseys to iconic movie memorabilia, these items hold an emotional connection that bonds generations.

2. Scarcity: There's only one Babe Ruth jersey from that famous game, and there will never be another. Collectibles that are rare, limited edition, or tied to important cultural moments can grow in value—just like a rare sneaker drop.

3. Diversification: Investing isn’t just about Wall Street. Collectibles are a great way to diversify your portfolio and reduce reliance on the traditional stock market.Collectibles are a deeply misunderstood asset class.

Many people overlook collectibles as a real investment because their value is often socially driven, not based on "fundamentals."

But that thinking misses the point. Collectibles blend two powerful things: personal enjoyment and financial potential. They connect you to history, culture, and your interests while offering a smart, alternative way to invest.

Not only do collectibles help protect against market ups and downs, but they also diversify your portfolio—key for building long-term wealth. Beyond the numbers, though, collectibles are about creating a legacy, driven by both their social value and scarcity.

There’s only one Babe Ruth “called shot” jersey, for instance. And even collectibles that aren’t one-of-a-kind are often limited edition, like the famous 1967 L88 Corvette (only 20 were ever made). 

The combination of value + scarcity means that collectibles shouldn’t be overlooked – and are worth exploring as a serious investment strategy.

What Even Counts as a Collectible??

The first hurdle in understanding collectibles is figuring out what assets should even count as collectibles in the first place.

Based on our “socially valuable” framework, things like fine art, wines, whiskey, and probably even gold should be counted as collectibles.

But at this point, these assets are so well-established that we sometimes don’t think of them as collectibles.

So, here are our top ten “other” collectibles - assets that are a bit more niche and unproven, but still worth investment consideration:

1. Sneakers – You know that pair of Off-White Nikes or Yeezys you couldn’t get on release day? They’re not just hype. Some limited-edition sneakers have become valuable investment assets, with resale values soaring.

2. Luxury watches – It’s not just about looking good; high-end brands like Rolex and Patek Philippe are solid investments that often appreciate over time.

3. Designer handbags – The Hermès Birkin bag is more than just an accessory. Some rare models have outpaced gold in terms of value growth. Let that sink in!

4. Sports memorabilia – Beyond Babe Ruth, think Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game” shoes or Tom Brady’s game-worn jerseys. These pieces of history can fetch millions.

5. Movie & TV memorabilia – Props from blockbuster films or popular TV shows often grow in value as their cultural importance continues to resonate.

6. Rare coins & stamps – While these are more traditional collectibles, rare coins and stamps are still serious contenders for investors looking for long-term growth.

7. Toys & action figures – Have an original Star Wars action figure still in the box? Congrats, you might be sitting on a goldmine.

8. Comic books – First-edition comics, especially those featuring iconic superheroes like Spider-Man or Batman, have gained major traction in the investment world.

Whether you're into sneaker culture or vintage toys, there’s a collectible market that fits your passion—and potentially your wallet.

During the 90s, Beanie Babies were famously considered a valuable investment. They’re crashing prices, though, highlight the risks of collectibles investing.

Do Collectibles Perform Well as an Investment?

Sorry folks - this question doesn’t have a simple yes or no answer.

Since collectibles are real property, we should generally expect their prices to appreciate at least in line with inflation.

And since many collectibles are luxury items, the huge rise in the number of global millionaires over the past few years should be a strong tailwind for even greater price appreciation.  

But getting more specific on collectibles performance is incredibly complicated – for a few reasons.

#1: Different collectibles have different performance.

Some collectibles certainly perform well. Fine art has even matched or exceeded equity market performance in recent years.

But other categories leave something to be desired. Luxury watch prices, for instance, have fallen by almost 39% over the past 2 years. 

Rare coins, meanwhile, have climbed about 25% since 2021 – but only after falling sharply between 2014 and 2020. 

#2: Data is hard to find.

Closely related to the first point, determining the performance of many collectible categories is almost impossible due to missing data.

How are we supposed to calculate the average performance of things like sports memorabilia and movie posters if most trades happen over-the-counter and are never recorded?

#3: Hidden costs.

Finally, the data we do have on collectibles usually misses many of the hidden costs of owning these items:

• Insurance is often necessary to protect valuable physical goods.

• Storage costs can be hefty, especially for bulky items like classic cars.

• Deterioration and damage are serious considerations. Many collectibles are only valuable if they’re in good condition.

All these factors make the financial performance of collectibles tough to assess.

But at the end of the day, investing in collectibles isn’t just about performance… 

Collectibles Investing: Is it Right for You?

Investing in collectibles has a psychological side too—what we call the “warm fuzzies” that come from owning things tied to your passions. While these emotional returns are hard to measure, they matter.

At NOYACK, we emphasize knowing your "why" for investing. If you're focused purely on performance, a professionally managed, liquid fund with a strong track record is your best option.

But if you're investing for personal enjoyment, go ahead and buy collectibles you love—don’t stress too much about financial returns. When you’re investing for love, it’s about passion as much as profit.

Should investing in comic books be a big component of your portfolio? Probably not. But if you enjoy looking at your comic book collection, it might be worth it to “invest” anyway. 

How to Invest in Collectibles 

Over the past few years, the accessibility of collectibles investing has risen dramatically. With platforms enabling fractional ownership of high-value assets, more people have access to these opportunities than ever before.

Recently, our team had the chance to sit down with the founders behind Noble, a collectibles platform focused on trading cards launching to the public later this year.

Trading cards - including Pokemon Cards - are one option for investing in collectibles. 

After more than a decade with Goldman Sachs, co-founder Jermaine Jarrett explained that the company's launch was inspired by the rapid growth of the collectibles market.

"The global collectibles market is growing at 9.2% and is valued at $622.4 billion, while the card trading market is expanding even faster at 13%," Jermaine said. "These assets are becoming increasingly accessible to the public."

Co-founder Jake Rabinowitz added that the uncorrelated returns of collectibles are drawing in younger investors. "Gen Z and Millennials are turning to collectibles as a way to diversify their portfolios."

Whether you’re seeking diversification or simply investing out of passion, we’ve outlined some options to consider for collectibles as an asset class:

NFA.01

While there are a couple of fine art investment platforms out there, our Noyack Fine Art.01 fund is the ONLY one offering funds where the artists themselves are equity partners. Because those that invest together win together with the best access to the artworks.

Rally

Rally offers a way to buy fractional shares in individual collectibles, including trading cards, classic cars, and comic books.

VinoVest

VinoVest allows you to build a portfolio of wine & spirit investments by partnering with expert advisors (stay tuned for our deeper dive into wine investing soon!).

Heritage Auctions

Heritage Auctions is an auction house specifically focused on collectible items, including coins, stamps, and rare books. 

In contrast to competitors like Sotheby’s, Heritage is essentially a “mass-market” auction house. While you might encounter less professionalism, you might also be able to uncover better deals. Our fine art fund di just that; Noyack Fine Art.01

📺 WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

This video from Bloomberg explores how the market for sports trading cards has grown from niche hobby to investment asset class in just a few short years.

Bloomberg Originals: How Trading Cards Became a $1B+ Asset Class

👂 WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

This episode of the Millennial Investing podcast features a discussion with Rob Petrozzo, the founder of collectibles investment platform Rally. Topics include market liquidity, differences between asset classes, and researching & sourcing collectibles investments.  

Millennial Investing: Investing in Rare Collectibles

📖 WHAT WE’RE READING

This paper from private wealth manager AllianceBernstein offers insight into an overlooked aspect of collectibles investing – the challenges they create for inheritance and estate planning.

Alliance Bernstein: Rare Finds Can Become Slippery Slopes for Wealth Transfer

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