For as much as auctions serve a functional purpose for businesses and companies, the randomness of some items auctioned off is what keeps this industry so fresh and unique. Each year, there are hundreds and hundreds of items auctioned off around the world that make headlines for their peculiar nature.
We decided to take a look back on what 2021 auctions produced that may make you scratch your head. Here’s what we found.
Non-fungible tokens (NFT) rose in popularity during 2021 largely in part due to a push in digital auctions. NFTs are a unique and non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a blockchain. Common examples of NFTs include photos and videos.
Back in March, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey auctioned off an NFT of his first tweet for more than $2.9 million. The tweet, which was created on March 21, 2006, read, “just setting up my twttr.” The NFT was signed and verified by Dorsey.
Al Capone, an American gangster who was known by his nickname “Scarface,” had one of his pistols auctioned off for $860,000. The items were from a villa Capone lived in before his death in 1947.
The gun, a Colt .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, was used by Capone for protection. According to his granddaughter, Capone used the pistol several times during altercations, which is why it became his favorite gun.
Video games, especially vintage copies, always do well at auctions. That was the case for an unopened copy of Super Mario Bros. that sold for $2 million, becoming the most expensive video game ever sold.
The game originated in 1985 for Nintendo’s game console and soon became one of the more iconic games on the market.
Earlier in the year, an unopened copy of Super Mario for the Nintendo 64 console sold for $1,560,000 at an auction.
A painting from 1982 that depicts a gladiator brandishing a sword sold for a whopping $41.9 million in 2021. Titled “Warrior,” the painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat symbolized the struggles of Black men in a white-dominated world.
Gas has been in the news lately for rising costs, but this antique gas pump made headlines for its beauty. The 10-gallon pump with a built-in oil dispenser had a tinted glass cylinder displaying gallon markers. The winning bid totaled $87,600.
A typical Chicken McNugget from your favorite local McDonalds is worth less than $1. But this tiny piece of breaded chicken was sold at an auction for nearly six figures! Why? It was in the shape of a character from Among us, a popular online game. The final price came in at $99,997!
By now, Apple seemingly has a monopoly on all the major electronic devices in American households – phones, tablets, computers, and headphones. However, in the company’s infancy days, they were one of the first to specialize in personal computers.
In 1976, Apple released the Apple Computer 1 (later known as Apple I). There were just 200 of these computers ever made, and one recently sold at an auction for $500,000. The original price was just under $2,000 back in the 1970s, so it’s safe to say the rarity of this computer helped increase its value as a collector’s item.
In December, tornadoes and severe weather devastated Kentucky. To help raise money for victims of this natural disaster, the Kentucky Bourbon Benefit brought in more than $4 million through an auction. As part of the auction, a hand-selected private barrel of 19-Year Willett Family Estate Bourbon sold for $401,000.
The world’s largest skeleton sold for $7.7 million) at an auction this year in Paris. The skeleton is estimated to be 66 million years old and stands 23 feet by 8 feet tall. It was originally found in 2014 in South Dakota and has three horns on its head.
Jewelry is always a hit at auctions, and a rare watch sold for $6.5 million, more than 120 times its retail price.
The watch, a limited edition Patek Philippe Tiffany & Co. Nautilus, is considered the holy grail of sports watches. There were only 170 watches made. Each watch retails for around $52,000.
Over the years, memorabilia from Elvis Presley is typically a hot commodity at auctions. His popularity reached a new level this year when a jar of his hair sold for $72,500. The jaw came from Elvis’ own personal barber who saved the pieces after haircuts.
A small blue and white bowl found at a yard sale turned out to be a rare 15th-century Chinese antique that sold for $721,800. The original owner bought the bowl, which originated in the Ming Dynasty, for just $35.
Printing errors always make for good collector’s items, whether they are for bills or coins. In 2021, a $20 bill with a banana sticker from Del Monte sold for $400,000.
The $20 bill was discovered in 2004 as part of a simple ATM transaction by a college student. It originally sold for $10,000 before being sold again for $25,300 in 2006.
Do you have unique or interesting items of your own to sell? Get in touch with us today using this contact form or call us directly at (405) 266-2709. View our upcoming auctions schedule to participate in one of our events.
