The 1960s was a decade filled with growth in technology, sports, and music.
It was when The Beatles first made their way to the United States. Before that, Americans mostly heard music from other Americans. The internet wasn’t around, so people couldn’t easily share their favorite songs worldwide. Once The Beatles arrived, it paved the way for groups like the Rolling Stones and countless others to sell out shows. These days, finding memorabilia that reminds people about what music was like during that decade has become valuable.
Music isn’t the only part of society that still heavily influences culture in 2024. The ’60s was when Stan Lee first started writing and publishing comic books. At first, comic book sales weren’t a huge success. As time has passed, interest in superheroes saving the day has taken over. Some of the most profitable movie franchises are based on comic books. The anticipation audiences felt for the release of “Avengers: Endgame“ was unmatched.
Toy companies won’t put the same amount of effort into the products they make in 2024 compared to how they did during the 1960s. During that time, anyone could go outside and play with their toys with confidence that the items would still be fully intact by the time they were done. The vintage toy market has been on fire of late with no signs of slowing down. For more 1960s content, click here to read about the 25 biggest hits of the decade.
To compile this list of items from the 60s that are now worth a fortune, 24/7 Tempo consulted throwback-centered sources.
Sports Memorabilia
There’s never been a time where sports fans didn’t sit on the edge of their seats waiting to see what their favorite players were going to do next. However, during the 1960s, there were less teams to root for in every sport. Players like Bill Russell, Joe Namath, and Willie Mays were just some of the stars people looked up to and watched.
In 2024, finding memorabilia connected to these players, or any for that matter, can go for a high price. Sports memorabilia is unique because no two players are the same. Each decade has different teams that come out on top. Autographed jerseys, cards, and gear are items that most fans seek out to add to their collections.
Comic Books
Tons of people aspire to achieve the feeling that comes with saving the day and being remembered as a hero in their life. Comic books bring that fantasy into reality. The first comic books from the 1960s told stories of heroes and villains with exceptional abilities. Some characters from other planets were drawn up to make sure Earth remained safe. If you can get your hands on an early comic book from the 60s in 2024, you’ve hit the jackpot.
With the explosion of popularity of superhero movies and television shows since the late 2000s, early comic books have been hot items whenever they land on the market. There are some comic books, like the first appearance of Spider-Man, that will sell for over $3.6 million. The passion people have for comic book stories doesn’t appear to be going anywhere soon.
Vintage Toys
In 2024, the majority of kids would rather sit with an iPad or some sort of technological device to pass time. In the 1960s, neighborhood kids came together to enjoy themselves with their favorite toys. Toy companies couldn’t come up with new and fresh ideas fast enough. Every weekend, the toy aisle would be cleaned out in the 60s.
Since a lot of the toys that were played with during that time were thrown out or destroyed, finding mint items from that decade is challenging. Whenever someone does have a toy that’s in good shape, be ready to shell out a decent amount of money for it. There’s no telling what future generations are going to look back on from their childhood, but 60s kids can reflect on the fun they had growing up.
Lunch Boxes
It was normal to bring lunch to school every day with something to drink in a thermos. Different movie characters, company logos, and sports teams plastered their symbolism on these lunch boxes. A metal lunch box was what students truly looked forward to opening each day during their mealtime break.
However, like toys from the 1960s, lunch boxes were used daily. This meant they naturally wore down as time progressed. When a lunch box broke or wasn’t working anymore, people rarely kept them. Instead, they threw them out and replaced them. In 2024, vintage lunch boxes from that time go for a lot of money. Price points depend on what’s drawn on them, and if they have the matching thermos.
Civil Rights Memorabilia
The 1960s was a time when people fought for equal rights. Before that time, there wasn’t a way to gather the masses and spread information. As television and technology advanced, more people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to people to fight for their rights.
Different artifacts that helped spring along the Civil Rights Movement are super valuable in 2024. Without pins, shirts, and hats, along with plenty of other items, there’s no telling where society would be today. Many of these items belong in a museum so that people can learn about history by seeing how far society has come.
Music Memorabilia
Music around the world has evolved significantly. That’s partly thanks to the 1960s era, when international bands were first touring around the United States. Before that, groups like The Beatles and Rolling Stones would stay in England and around the Europe area. After that, everyone across the globe could hear some of the best music made.
Items from groups like The Beatles and Bob Marley go for large sums of money in 2o24. It’s not just these groups, though. As time has gone on, the popularity of 1960s bands hasn’t gone away. Even as some of the band members die, other performers do their best to put on shows that honor these icons. Because of this, music memorabilia from the 1960s will be popular.
Watches
Even though it’s easy to check the time on phones in 2024, there’s a certain feeling of sophistication that comes with wearing a nice watch. The technology and design of watches has evolved greatly since the 1800s, when watches were first created. During the 1960s, watches started to get extra little add-ons that made other people stop and stare at your wrist.
In 2024, vintage clothing has made a true comeback. One of the most popular items to match with clothing is a quality watch. Since old-school watches were usually well taken care of, there are still plenty of good examples to find. However, their value comes from the brands that made them. For example, finding a Rolex from that decade would be a jackpot in 2024.
Sports Cars
Most people want to drive a car that they feel confident in. A car is an easy way to see what a person’s personality is like. If you have a car from the 1960s, odds are, you’re a person with great taste and some money. The way cars were designed during that era has struck quite the positive nerve with the younger generations.
Cars like the Camaro, Mustang, and Corvette from the 1960s are sold at top dollar today. The way to earn money from a 60s car sake is by ensuring that everything on the interior matches how it looked during the 60s when these cars were first released. The body of the car has to be in ideal condition also. They say cars lose their value the second they leave the lot, but that isn’t the case with 60s rides.
Furniture
Like watches and clothes, furniture from the 1960s is making a massive comeback. Millennials and adult-aged Gen-Zers are purchasing their own homes and apartments as of now. They love the vintage look the 1960s offered. An easy way to honor that feel is by adding 1960s furniture to their homes.
Adding this decor to your house as a Millennial or Gen-Zer is done by purchasing items that were around during the 1960s. Lots of companies are now making older-looking furniture to pass off as vintage. Still, there are easy ways to tell when something was made recently. The value of old furniture is flying up and with no end in sight.
Barbie Dolls
Tons of little girls grew up playing with Barbie dolls and acting out what they wanted their lives to be like. This hasn’t gone away, even as time has progressed through the years. The first Barbie dolls were released in the 1960s, making them incredibly valuable. Like other toys from that era, the value stems from Barbies getting thrown away once they were done being played with.
The release of the “Barbie“ movie in 2023 revitalized the interest in playing with these dolls based on what they represent. In 2024, there have been more releases of Barbie dolls with different skin colors so that every race of people feels included. The value of these dolls will only continue to rise as new generations of girls continue to live out their dreams during playtime.
Technology
It’s amazing how far society has come since the 1960s when it comes to technology. During that decade, it was common to only have one house phone available. Televisions only had a few channels and nobody knew what the internet was going to become. In 2024, all of these things have exploded significantly. Technology has become part of most people’s everyday lives, whether they like it or not.
Vintage technology from the 1960s is commonly purchased as décor for modern homes these days. Lots of people enjoy looking at older pieces of tech and thinking about how basic things used to be, not long ago. As technology advances more into the future, the curiosity about what life was like before such advances will only continue rising. For more 1960s content, click here to read about the celebrities who were hippies during this decade.