For some, it was Beanie Babies. For others, it was Precious Moments figurines. In my experience, those are pretty much the only two camps you could fall into as far as collectors’ items were concerned back in the 1990s.
If you happen to still have some of those little doll figurines hanging around your home, they could be worth a lot of money — if you’re willing to part with them, that is. (Of course, that’s not to snub Beanie Babies, because they can be worth quite a bit, too!).
Now, keep in mind, we’re not suggesting all of your figurines will be worth money — only those that are rare, hard to find or special in some way will get you some cash.
Below we’ve provided some details for what makes a Precious Moments figurine valuable, so read on to learn more.
What’s The Appeal?
Part of what makes the Precious Moments figurines worth so much money is that only one of the “Original 21” figurines is still available for purchase. (You can learn more about all of the Original 21 figures here.)
If you want to get your hands on some of the earliest figurines, you’ll have to be willing to shell out big bucks for them.
Precious Moments figurines are adorable and each scene tells a story, making them great to put on display.
Most of the figurines are rooted in Christianity, as the original creator, Samuel Butcher, was religious and worked for a church. Butcher began by drawing the dolls and eventually turned them into figurines.
The Precious Moment dolls have since gathered a devoted fanbase, and are often given as gifts to mark special occasions or holidays. They can also be used to decorate a new baby’s room for example, and make great keepsakes.
While the dolls may be within a reasonable price range on the company’s website, based on previous purchases we saw on eBay, people are willing to pay a lot for some of the vintage and limited edition dolls.
One is currently on sale on eBay for $369, and if you’re willing to get rid of an entire lot of them at once, well, it might be worth thousands.
It only cost roughly $15 to purchase one when they were made, so selling would now definitely be a return on investment.
What Makes For A High Selling Price?
The older these figurines are, the more they sell for, and it’s also important that they’re in good condition.
If you’re willing to part with your entire collection as opposed to just one figurine, you could stand to make a lot of money.
Some figurines were limited edition, so if you’ve got one of those sitting on a shelf somewhere, it’d definitely be worth quite a bit of cash if listed online.
Some of the limited edition pieces will be holiday-themed, like this one from the official Precious Moments website.
How Have Previous Sales Performed?
We took it upon ourselves to research how much Precious Moments items have sold for in the past:
1. Limited Edition
Years ago, a version of this “Make A Joyful Noise” figurine sold for $409 on eBay. It’s now being sold for $649 by one seller.
2. Rare
In these examples, you’ll see that these cute little figurines can be worth hundreds when sold individually, and thousands when sold in bulk. In February of 2019, a rare 2010 edition Disney Cinderella horse-drawn carriage piece sold for $1,500 — and there were just 1,500 total figurines of this type made in the world. There is one currently on sale on eBay for $599.
3. Original 21
As one of the original 21 designs, this “God Loveth A Cheerful Giver” figurine sold for $275 back in 2017. One seller currently has one on sale for a whopping $499.
4. Entire Lot
A large collection of these figurines once sold for $5,000 in 2017, so if you’ve been collecting these for years, there’s potential for a lot of extra money to be made. One seller has a lot for sale for a grand total of $14,999. Most items in the lot are in mint condition, come with certificates of authenticity and eight have even been signed by the original creator.
Studying the previous sales on eBay will help you determine how to price your vintage items. So if you’re prepared to sell your Precious Moments figurines, do your research and get ready to make some money!
About the Author
Augusta Statz holds a B.F.A. in Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She's an avid writer with a genuine sense of curiosity. She feels the best way to absorb the world around you is through fashion, art and food, so that’s what she spends most of her time writing about. More.
