Let’s climb into the WayBack Machine to Christmas 1996. I had wandered into a Toys-R-Us store to pick up an item I had been asked to get. As I walked the aisles I saw an employee putting boxes on a shelf. Each contained a plush Sesame Street doll named Elmo.
I had heard of the commotion these had caused. Named, “Tickle Me Elmo,” it would wildly vibrate while making a laughing sound. Elmo was “it” for Christmas 1996. Parents and collectors clamored for them. Instead of the $20 retail price, some were trading for hundreds. I couldn’t resist. I took two to the checkout....
As I stood in line, the store manager rushed over and yanked one out of my hand yelling, “NO! Only one per customer. You CAN’T have two!” Yikes. She might want to ask Santa for some Xanax.
Ironically, I didn’t want the toys. I was buying them so a good friend with a major radio show might offer them on air with proceeds going to charity. That’s what we did.
Insanely enough, the one I bought sold on the air for over $1,000. I later learned the buyer was convinced it would bring far more in the future.
A similar phenomenon happened two years later. In 1998, Beanie Babies were the rage. The most coveted was a Princess Diana bear – purple with a rose embroidered on its chest.
People were again literally fighting to grab one of the precious few available. Prices soared above the $7 retail price. Again, some were offering hundreds of dollars.
Fast-forward a quarter-century to 2025. Today, that thousand-dollar “Tickle Me Elmo” doll sells for about $25. If it’s still “mint-in-box,” maybe $50 or $60. The Princess Diana Beanie Baby? One can now be had for $25 or $30 if the original tag is attached. (Don’t tell that to a few dreamers on eBay. Hoping to recoup their investment, on that site, some are asking $50,000. You can ask whatever you want. In reality, chances of one selling for that are the same as the real Santa landing on your roof.)
Admittedly, the fleeting Christmas holidays envelop us. Unfortunately, the sentimentality of the season can tempt us to “invest” in items we otherwise might think twice about. Something that never takes a holiday is our desire to acquire things we believe will have tremendous future value. It’s an understandable wish that, too often, results in disappointment.
Recently, a full-page ad in a national newspaper promoted a set of five solid silver Christmas bars. They feature vivid colorized Yuletide images of a holiday train; toy soldier and doll beside a Christmas tree; an old pickup truck filled with presents; Santa with a sack of gifts; and Mary and Joseph leaning over the Christ child in a manger. Buyers can also have their name engraved on the reverse.
The five bars said to arrive in a “Vault Brick box.” I had heard the term “brick” reserved for hefty 100- or 1000-ounce silver or 24-pound gold bars. But, I suppose it can be applied to anything. These silver Christmas bars weigh just 1/4-ounce each. Ergo, all five weigh a total of 1-1/4 ounces. At today’s silver bullion price that equates to around $80. The price for the set in the ad was $195. On the company’s website, the price for five similar 1/4-ounce silver Christmas ingots was $295.
I also recently saw a TV infomercial for a set of eight one-ounce silver “coins.” Those too had vivid color images applied. Two were the Dr. Seuss Christmas characters Grinch and Max his dog. Additional coins showed Cindy Lou-Who; Things One and Two; Cat In The Hat; and several others. Each includes, “One-Ounce,” “.999 Silver,” “One Dollar” and the amusing, “E Pluribus Funum.” All are certified and graded. Mintages are limited to 5,000 for each of the eight coins.
The asking price for the Dr. Seuss coins is $179 apiece. That comes to $1,432 for all eight. At today’s silver bullion price, eight-ounces comes to a bit over $500.
Fans of colorized ingots, bars or coins might love these. All are certainly fun, colorful and “Christmas.” However, the multiple coin dealers with whom I spoke each said they would only pay the actual silver bullion price for any of them. No premium for Christmas, colorization or personalization.
When it comes to anything considered to be an “investment,” it might be best to make a list and check it twice with a dealer. That could help keep the holidays merry and bright.
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