Who wouldn't want to become a millionaire? Although there are many avenues you can take to earn $1 million, here's one that might surprise you: Cash in on your geeky collectibles.
Sure, it sounds a little far-fetched, but some collectibles have made big bucks at auctions and are considered valuable. Of course, how much your geeky collectibles are worth can be subjective and might depend on a variety of factors, such as your collectibles' condition, rarity, age and the demand for it. And in some cases, you'll need to have multiple rare and valuable collectibles in order to fetch $1 million -- or at least close to $1 million.
Check out these nine "geeky" collectibles you might already own. If you're so lucky, you might be the owner of a collectible that's equivalent to hitting the jackpot -- and could catapult you to millionaire status.
1. Comic Books
Comic books are still very popular collector's items -- and perhaps for a good reason.
Typically, the more vintage and rare your comic book is, the more it's worth. For instance, a 1938 copy of "Action Comics #1" recently sold in August for nearly $1 million -- $956,000, to be exact -- at a public auction, according to Heritage Auctions. This comic book featured the first appearance of Superman, according to HA, and originally cost 10 cents back when it debuted. In addition to being vintage, "Action Comics #1" is rare -- only 100 or so copies exist, according to HA.
However, just because your comic book collection might contain some rare and vintage copies, that doesn't necessarily guarantee you'll get $1 million for them. According to ComicsPriceGuide.com, there are additional factors you'll want to keep in mind when you're looking to buy, sell or trade your comic book. For example, you'll want to figure out your comic book's marketability. If there's a high demand for your comic book, you might be able to get a larger sum. CPG notes that comics with classic covers or first appearances will likely have more marketability.
2. Coins
Collecting coins is a popular hobby that can certainly pay off -- depending on their rarity and condition. For example, the rare 1894 S-Barber typically sells for more than $1 million, although it has sold for more than $2 million at private sales, according to HA. In fact, CNN Money reported the 1894-S Barber auctioned for $1,997,500 in Tampa, Fla.
Now, don't go frantically searching for rare coins at the bottom of public water fountains or between your couch cushions. Unless you're an avid coin collector with an impressive coin collection, finding rare coins that will sell for $1 million will be a challenge.
But if you do have a coin collection you think is filled with classic rarities, you might want to figure out how much your coins are worth before you consider selling or auctioning them off. HA has a price guide for beginners on its website. You can also visit the Professional Coin Grading Service website to get your coins graded.
3. Stamps
Stamps are also common collectors' items. There's even a holiday -- National Stamp Collecting Month -- in October where people are encouraged to add to their stamp collection or start one. Plus, rare stamps can be valuable. Take, for example, the '"Inverted Jenny" stamp.
According to CNN, only 100 "Inverted Jenny" stamps exist. Before one of these rare stamps was auctioned off in May, it was valued at $1.6 million. The stamp didn't quite fetch $1.6 million -- but the final price was still more than $1 million. The New York Daily News reported a private buyer paid a staggering $1,175,000 for it.
If you want to sell any of your valuable stamps to make cash, LearnAboutStamps.org -- which is sponsored by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum and other organizations -- suggests preparing your stamp collection. If your collection is organized, it will likely sell for more money.
See: 13 Types of Alternative Investments
4. Dolls, Action Figures and Other Playthings
If you've been holding onto a toy or doll collection for years and years -- perhaps because you want to pass on the playthings to your future grandchildren or because you love feeling nostalgic -- you might be sitting on a gold mine of collectibles.
The toys you played with when you were little could hold more than just sentimental value; they could hold monetary value. And although it might be hard to sell one toy for $1 million or more, selling several toy collectibles could help you come close to that figure.
For example, the 1963 G.I. Joe sold for $200,000 in 2003 in a private sale, reported CBS News at the time. And if you visit eBay and search for dolls, you'll likely find dolls on sale for tens of thousands of dollars. In fact, one listing claims to have the authentic Cabbage Patch Kid Doll that's priced at $50,000 at time of publishing. There are also several "antique" dolls hovering around $20,000 and more.
So, rummage through your old toy bins and see what turns up. However, make sure you check your old playthings' authenticity and do your research to confirm their values first.
5. Board Games
Similar to dolls and other toys, it might be hard to make $1 million or more from selling a single board game. After all, not all board games have six-figure values -- but there are some.
In 2011, Smithsonian Magazine reported a craftsman created a gold-plated Monopoly board and set that costs more than $2 million total. Currently, the board game is part of an exhibit at the Museum of American Finance called "Worth Its Weight," which runs until Dec. 30, 2016.
Although it's unlikely you have a $2 million board game collecting dust in your garage or attic, a large collection of vintage board games with value could certainly add up. Collectors Weekly features hundreds of vintage board games with bids as high as several hundred dollars. And a quick search on eBay will pull up some board game sets worth close to $1,000 or up.
6. Baseball Cards
Do you have a baseball card collection that you're ready to sell for a profit? If so, you might be in luck, especially if any of the cards in your collection are rare.
In 2015, a 1909 T206 Honus Wagner baseball card fetched $1.32 million, reported the Los Angeles Times, and that was considered a bargain. Two years earlier, the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card sold for $2.1 million online, reported ESPN. Reportedly, fewer than 200 were ever made, which explains the $1 million-plus price tag.
See: 11 Most Expensive Baseball Memorabilia
More recently, in March, seven T206 Ty Cobb cards discovered in the "trash" made news after being valued at about $1 million, with each being worth at least $150,000, reported The Washington Post. Now that's a dumpster-to-treasure success story.
7. Star Wars Collectibles
Let's be honest -- "Star Wars" is a cultural phenomenon, and items with the movie's branding are collectibles no matter their value to movie fanatics. Of course, realistically, some are worth more than others.
One "Star Wars" mega-fan received more than half a million dollars -- $505,202 -- from his "Star War" collection of 600 items, reported CNN in 2015. Some items, however, were worth more than others. For example, a "pristine" multi-pack of seven figurines from "The Empire Strikes Back" sold for more than $30,000, or three times its estimate. And, a recalled Luke Skywalker toy sold for $25,000. Meanwhile, Yak Face, a creature from "Return of the Jedi," only sold for $7,250 and a "Return of the Jedi" Anakin Skywalker figurine sold for even less -- $3,000.
So, if your collection is double in size with items from the original trilogy, you could have a nice nest egg worth close to $1 million.
8. Movie Collectibles
In order to earn at least $1 million from a movie collectible, you first have to be lucky enough to already own the collectible -- which might be nearly impossible since very few of the items from an actual movie are usually available. Still, some of these collectibles have sold for more than $1 million.
Take the Cowardly Lion costume from the "Wizard of Oz" and the "Casablanca" piano, for example. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Cowardly Lion costume sold for $3.08 million at the Bonham's Turner Classic Movies auction. And, the "Casablanca" piano sold for $3.41 million.
But if you don't have a one-of-a-kind collectible, you might have action figures, a large collection of movie posters or perhaps even one sheets you could sell for close to $1 million total. In August, HA announced a one-sheet poster from the 1915 film "The Birth of a Nation" sold for nearly $75,000. Meanwhile, a "Son of Frankenstein" one sheet sold for more than $40,000, and a "Dracula's Daughter" one sheet fetched more than $35,000.
If you have a movie poster collection you want to sell, HA states vintage material from 1910 to the 1950s usually hold the most value -- and "command the highest prices." Popular horror and science-fiction film titles typically generate steep prices, as well as those related to Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, early Walt Disney cartoons and Alfred Hitchcock, to name a few.
9. Books
A book's value can go beyond the pleasure of reading. And if you have a ton of first edition or classic books, you might be able to fetch a nice fortune.
According to a Sotheby's blog, hardcover first editions of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" can fetch up to $45,000, while the "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" can go up to around $7,000. However, a first edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic book, "The Great Gatsby," could be valued at $400,000 -- as long as it's in a perfect dust jacket.
Sotheby's notes that books can be highly valuable depending on a variety of reasons and factors, including rarity, the quality of binding and so forth. So before you trash or decide to rebind your books, do your research -- you just might have a gem in your hand.
Keep Reading: 20 Hidden Sources of Income Lying Around Your House
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Geeky Collectibles That Could Make You a Millionaire