It’s not hard to understand how some valuable or historical objects end up selling for huge sums when they go under the hammer.
But every once in a while, a rare quirk gets some attention when it involves much more than anyone expected.
For example, a first-edition iPhone sold for a whopping $190,000 last month.
Considered the “Holy Grail” by Apple collectors, the technology was purchased for more than 300 times the price it was released on the market in 2007.
Here, DailyMail.com lists six of the most unusual items ever sold at auction – which also brought in quite a bit of cash.
Occasionally a rare quirk gets some attention when it involves much more than anyone expected
The hourglass from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ – $495,000
In December last year, the “most recognizable signature prop” from the 1939 film starring Judy Garland as Dorothy sold at auction for a whopping $495,000, according to the US newspaper The Guardian. Cheapism.
The hourglass famously appears in the movie when the Wicked Witch of the West says to Dorothy, “See that? That’s how long you have to live! And it won’t be long, my beautiful! it’s not long! I can’t wait forever to get those shoes!’
Described by Heritage Auctions as ‘the most famous and recognizable timepiece in film history’, the hourglass does not actually work. The glass is filled with red glitter, but the pieces can’t actually flow through the little neck of the prop.
While many of the other props from the movie are on display at the Smithsonian, the hourglass was purchased by a mysterious bidder.
The ‘most recognizable signature prop’ from the 1939 film starring Judy Garland as Dorothy sold at auction in December 2022 for a whopping $495,000
Mark Zuckerberg baseball card – $105,000
While baseball cards from legendary players like Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle are known to sell for millions of dollars, a card from the Meta founder’s Little League days fetched a whopping $105,000 at auction last September.
The card, which features a photo of an eight-year-old Zuckerberg and his signature at the time, was purchased by an unknown buyer at an auction hosted by online comic book retailer Comic Connect.
The map was sold by Allie Tarantino, Zuckerberg’s “favorite counselor” at a camp in White Plains, New York, when he was a child.
“I’ve been telling this story for a while, about how I knew Mark as a camper, and it always surprises people to see that this map actually exists,” Tarantino said in a pre-sale press release.
The baseball card features a photo of eight-year-old Mark Zuckerberg, which he signed at the time
Buzz Aldrin’s Apollo 11 Moon Jacket – $2,772,500
The jacket worn by Buzz Aldrin on his historic first mission to the lunar surface in 1969 was auctioned to a bidder in July 2022 for an astronomical $2.8 million.
According to Sotheby’s, which handled the sale of the Apollo 11 Inflight Coverall Jacket, the unknown winning bidder participated by phone and beat several others in a bidding war that lasted nearly ten minutes.
The historic item features Aldrin’s name tag on the left chest above the Apollo 11 mission emblem, and the American flag on the left shoulder.
Aldrin made history with Neil Armstrong by becoming the first astronaut to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969.
The historic item features Aldrin’s name tag on the left chest above the Apollo 11 mission emblem, and the US flag on the left shoulder
Silver dollar coin with wavy hair – $12 million
While many rare coins can fetch significant amounts at auction, this particular coin sold for as much as $12 million in 2022 as it is believed to be the first silver dollar ever minted by the United States Mint.
Also referred to as the “Flowing Hair” dollar, the 1794 coin features a portrait of Lady Liberty on one side and an eagle on the other.
Nevada collector Bruce Morelan, who bought the rare artifact for $10 million in 2013, sold the coin to California-based auction house GreatCollections.
“This is a dream coin – a priceless artifact that I am proud to own, and deeply sorry to see it disappear,” Morelan said. CNN.
“It’s time to move on to other challenges and I hope the new owner of the coin values it as much as I do,” he added.
The 1794 coin, known as the “Flowing Hair” dollar, shows a portrait of Lady Liberty on one side and an eagle on the other
Pink Diamond Barbie – $302,500
After the success of this year’s Barbie movie, rare dolls are having a moment; many dolls sell for staggering sums on eBay.
But none have reached the heights of this particular Barbie doll, which sold for $302,500 in 2010, with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
The doll, designed by Australian jeweler Stefano Canturi, wears a necklace with a one-carat pink diamond surrounded by a cluster of white diamonds
The doll, designed by Australian jeweler Stefano Canturi, is up for auction at Christie’s in Manhattan and wears a one-carat pink diamond necklace surrounded by a cluster of white diamonds.
The doll, wearing a black evening dress, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the most expensive Barbie doll sold at auction.
“It’s a joy for us to have sold the most expensive Barbie ever,” Christie’s Americas president Bonnie Brennan said at the time.
A kiss from Sharon Stone – $50,000
Hollywood superstar Sharon Stone auctioned a kiss for $50,000 in 2003, which went to a charity initiative
Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone kissed fan Joni Rimm for 45 seconds as part of a charity initiative in 2003.
The actor auctioned off the kiss for $50,000 to benefit Project Angel Food, a Los Angeles charity that provides meals for the homeless.
Rimm had already offered the charity $40,000 for Thanksgiving dinners, but Stone persuaded her to raise the offer for a kiss — which took place in front of a stunned audience.