Trading cards were an inescapable fad in the '90s that Millennials still love to reminisce about, even though the most valuable Marvel cards didn't make the splash that Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh! did. But today, interest in the MCU has hit the mainstream, and your old Marvel cards are worth a second look. Now's the perfect time to try to sell those forgotten classic cards still pressed in between the pages of your favorite comic books.
11 Most Valuable Marvel Trading Cards Worth a Super-Sized Profit
On the whole, vintage Marvel trading cards aren't worth that much money, mainly because only die-hard collectors look for niche Marvel goods like trading cards. But, the earliest cards from the '80s and '90s can be harder to find in museum-quality condition (aka mint or near-mint), and these cards can sell for a couple of thousand dollars to the right collectors.
So, if you've managed to hold on to any Marvel trading cards that you or your siblings collected as kids, you should browse through the piles to see if you've got any of these valuable pieces in the bunch.
| Most Valuable Marvel Trading Cards | Recent Sales Prices |
| 2013 Fleer Retro Blue #5 Spiderman | $168,000 |
| 2013 Fleer Retro Green #9 Captain America | $74,400 |
| 2013 Fleer Retro Green #16 Wolverine | $73,200 |
| 1990 Marvel Universe Hulk Error | ~$15,000 |
| 2008 Skybox "Silver Age" Spiderman Sketchagraph | $8,900 |
| 1990 Black Panther | $4,800 |
| 1980 Terrabusi Wolverine | $2,025 |
| 1990 Marvel Universe Signed Stan Lee | ~$2,000 |
| 1994 Marvel Masterpiece Gold Foil Wolverine | $2,000 |
| 1990 Marvel Universe Spiderman | $1,200 |
| 1990 Holographic Silver Surfer | $516 |
2013 Fleer Retro Blue #5 Spiderman: $168,000
In a rare departure from the vintage Marvel cards, this specific mint Spiderman card from 2013 is one of the highest-selling Marvel cards in the past few years. The winning bid in the Goldin auction for the rich electric green and red card was $168,000, a far cry from the usual bids for highly collectible Marvel cards. Due in large part to how popular the Spiderman character is and being the only card with this high of a mint in the collection led to its momentous sale to someone whose spidey senses were seriously tingling.
2013 Fleer Retro Green #9 Captain America: $74,400
Featuring Captain America winding his fist up to dole out some serious comic book justice, this base card comes from the beloved 2013 Fleer Retro series. These 'precious metal gems' collectible cards are super saturated and pretty to look at — pretty enough to pay thousands of dollars for. For instance, this near-perfect Captain America card sold for $74,400 in a Goldin auction.
2013 Fleer Retro Green #16 Wolverine: $73,200
Another popular card from the Fleer Retro series is Logan Howlett aka Wolverine. Wolverine has had a huge cult following ever since Hugh Jackman broke onto the screen puffing on a cigar and releasing razor-sharp claws from his knuckles in Marvel's first big feature film, X-Men. Collectors love these high-quality cards and will pay a pretty penny for them.
With only four known cards to be looked at by a professional in this green variant, the rare mint 8.5 green Wolverine was worth a hot $73,200 to one recent collector.
1990 Marvel Universe Hulk Error Card: ~$15,000
There's nothing a collector loves more than finding a card that's been messed up in the printing process, leaving it with wonky pictures, incorrect spellings, or upside-down images. Early Marvel cards didn't have many of these misprints, but their 1990 Hulk card featuring the cover art of a team-up between Hulk and Wolverine is known for a printing error.
A couple of cards have been found with an upside-down blurb about the Hulk on the back. Given that 1990 was the first year Impel manufactured these Marvel Universe cards, the 1990 Hulk error print is all the more juicy as a collectible. So few of them come up for sale that their sales prices are unpredictable. Recently, one with a near-mint 9 grade from the famous grading company, PSA, was listed on eBay for $15,000.
2008 Skybox "Silver Age" Spiderman Sketchagraph: $8,900
Stan Lee was the beloved face behind many of Marvel's most popular characters, and it's one of his sketched renditions of Spiderman that led to this rare 2022 auction sale. Skybox's "Silver Age" trading card collection featured artist sketches of their most revered superheroes.
Only 100 of Stan Lee's Spiderman cards featuring his signature were produced for this collection, and a mint example recently sold for $8,900.
1990 Black Panther: $4,800
Black Panther burst onto the scene for most people with Chadwick Boseman's electric performance as the Wakandan superhero in the 2018 film. It's Boseman's untimely passing that actually pushed the original 1990 base card to jump up in value in the past few years.
Currently, these mint condition cards wildly fluctuate in sales price. In one month, you can find the same cards selling for $50 and $2,000. Most recently, someone bought one in perfect condition for $4,800 on eBay, which shows that the Black Panther card's collectibility is steadily on the rise.
Related: 23 Most Valuable Pokemon Cards to Check for in Your Collection
1980 Terrabusi Wolverine: $2,025
One of the earliest known Wolverine cards doesn't come from a traditional trading card series from the Marvel Universe. If you find this 1980 card, you won't be able to stop yourself from chuckling at Wolverine in his iconic bright yellow jumpsuit. In an odd turn of events, this card was sold across Spain inside candy made by the confectionary company Terrabusi. According to PSA, there are only about 15 known copies, with one recently selling on eBay for $2,025.
The easiest way to check if your Wolverine card is a rare Terrabusi is to look on the back of the card for a printed ad promoting the Spanish candy.
1990 Marvel Universe Signed Stan Lee: ~$2,000
Stan Lee was inserting himself into comic book stuff long before Marvel movies were a thing. In 1990, the Marvel Universe card series' #161 card featured Stan Lee. The card itself isn't particularly rare, despite coming from this vintage set, but signed cards by Stan Lee have their own appeal.
As you probably know, things signed by people who have died tend to draw a big crowd. Granted, you won't make more than a couple hundred dollars off of most of them in good condition, but sometimes you get lucky and can hit four figures, like this card sold for.
1994 Marvel Masterpiece Gold Foil Wolverine: $2,000
Hugh Jackman may have turned Wolverine into a household name, but the comic book character has entertained readers for decades. Immortalized in the 1994 Marvel Masterpiece trading card series, this gold foil card is a fan favorite. Depicting a holographic Wolverine in mid-fight on a snow-covered mountain, what the card lacks in rarity it makes up for in fan interest. Who can resist a card with a superhero that's got claws like that?
One of these cards recently sold on eBay for $2,000, and being in the best condition possible (gem mint 10) gave it the boost it needed for a high-priced sale.
1990 Marvel Universe Spiderman: $1,200
First edition cards are majorly popular and usually worth a lot of money just because they were the first prints in a series. Combine being a first edition with the art for a super well-liked character, and you've got a card worth a good amount. The 1990 Spiderman card from the Marvel Universe card series is one of these special finds. When it's in tip-top condition, this '90s Spiderman trading card is worth about $1,000. For instance, one recently sold for $1,200 online.
1990 Holographic Silver Surfer: $516
The Silver Surfer already has an enigmatic reputation in the Marvel Universe, so it's only fitting that their card is just as desired. Basic '90s Marvel cards are all valuable in their own right, but this holographic variant of the Silver Surfer card is really sought after because of how hard it is to find in mint condition. Interestingly, the card goes for about $20-$30 if it's in rough shape, but mint cards usually sell for at least $150, if not more. Take this mint 9 card that sold for $560 in 2022, for example.
3 Tips for Finding and Selling Valuable Marvel Trading Cards
When you're looking for cards to sell from your collection or to buy with the intent of flipping for a profit, you want to keep a few key things in mind:
- Complete Sets - Complete sets of the different Marvel card series, such as the Marvel Universe series from 1990, are more valuable together than they are broken and sold apart. These full sets (especially when they're unopened) sell for about $700, on average.
- Gem Mint Grades - Most trading card conditions are graded through PSA, but no matter what company a card gets graded through, it's almost impossible to sell a card to any collector without having their condition looked over by a professional. So, if your cards haven't already been graded, you're going to want to send them off to be assessed.
- Printing Errors - Keep an eye out for anything that seems off on these vintage cards. Images being inverted, noticeable misspellings, double-printed images, and so on are all things that can make a card one-of-a-kind (and worth a one-of-a-kind price).
Make Your Own Superhero Origin Story
Getting into the trading card business will make either a superhero or supervillain out of you. Collectors can be cutthroat, and what buyers are interested in is always changing. But, the MCU is here to stay, making it the perfect opportunity to bring in a little cash on their vintage trading cards. So, get out there and create your own superhero origin story by slipping a card from your childhood collection into the hands of an eager collector.
