With the upcoming release of "Solo: A Star Wars Story," the beloved sci-fi franchise is having a moment. "Star Wars" branded merch is everywhere, from R2-D2 Lip Smackers lip balm to Millennium Falcon sneakers. If past is prologue, some of these items will be worth lots of money someday.
Here’s a look back at some of the most prized collectibles from the original trilogy:
Blue "Snaggletooth" Action Figure: $150-$500
This action figure from the original "Star Wars" film, "A New Hope," is actually named Zutton, but is commonly referred to as Snaggletooth. In the film, the character wore a red suit, but an early production run of the figure clad him in blue. The resulting "Blue Snaggletooth," while not exactly priceless, is still popular among collectors for its novelty value.
"Yak Face" (Saelt-Marae) Action Figure with collectors coin: $2,000
If the name "Yak Face" doesn’t ring a bell, congratulations, you might not be a "Star Wars" superfan. This obscure character — also known as "Joe Camel" for its uncanny resemblance to a certain cigarette mascot — was cut from toy-maker Kenner’s line, after production of the toys had already begun, according to Gizmodo. The leftover toys were sent to Europe and Canada, making them especially prized by American collectors who had been deprived of the experience of playing with Yak Face as children.
Though you can get some figures for fairly cheap online, this figure with a collector's coin is worth thousands still in the package.
AT-AT Driver with Collector’s Coin: $5,500-$7,500
Often when manufacturers tell you something is "collectible," it’s a case of wishful thinking. But it has proved true in the case of the "Power of the Force" coins that were available with select action figures or as mail-order prizes. The coins themselves range in value from $3-$5 up to $250-$400, but an action figure, with accompanying coin, still in its packaging, can fetch more than that — like this AT-AT Driver figure did at a recent auction.
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