14 Things Found in Your Junk Drawer That Could Be Valuable
Your cluttered junk drawer might be hiding a small fortune in forgotten trinkets and everyday oddities.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Most people ignore their junk drawers, but hidden among the mess could be items that collectors crave and are willing to pay big bucks for. From vintage tech to rare coins, these everyday finds might just surprise you with their worth.
1. Old Keys
Jen Theodore on Unsplash
Those rusty keys with unknown locks may not fit anything now, but collectors of “skeleton” and vintage house keys pay top dollar. Brass hotel keys or those with unique cuts can bring in anywhere from $10 to $100.
2. Outdated Coins
Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
Loose change from decades ago can be worth more than face value—especially wheat pennies, silver dimes, or foreign currency. Some rare coins have fetched hundreds at auction.
3. Discontinued Electronics
DiscoA340 on Wikimedia Commons
An old iPod Shuffle or flip phone could fetch surprising money from tech collectors. Devices with original packaging or limited runs are especially in demand.
4. Vintage Pins and Badges
Muhammed Zahid Bulut on Pexels
Campaign buttons, Olympic pins, or vintage band badges from decades ago can spark bidding wars. Political memorabilia and rare event badges often go for $20 to $200.
5. First-Generation USB Drives
LittleWorm on Wikimedia Commons
Original flash drives, especially those under 128MB, are becoming collector’s items. Quirky branding or unusual shapes boost the appeal.
6. Unused Gift Cards
401(K) 2012 on Flickr
That Starbucks card from 2005 with a cool design could be a collectible now, even if it’s empty. Certain limited-edition cards are worth more than their face value.
7. Old Ticket Stubs
Pittalum on Wikimedia Commons
Concert stubs, movie premieres, or sports games from decades past are time capsules and often collectors’ gold. The more iconic the event, the better the payout.
8. Classic Bottle Openers
Kgbo on Wikimedia Commons
Promotional or novelty openers from breweries and brands can be worth a lot. Look for logos from defunct companies or unusual shapes.
9. Foreign Bills
Emilian Robert Vicol on Wikimedia Commons
That colorful currency from your cousin’s backpacking trip might have serious value now. Some countries have discontinued old bills that collectors pay dearly for.
10. Vintage Sewing Kits
hehaden on Flickr
Mini sewing kits from airlines, hotels, or the ’60s and ’70s are oddly collectible. Look for unique packaging or branding.
11. Pocket Knives
Harrison Kugler on Unsplash
Old Swiss Army knives or branded multi-tools are prized by collectors, especially pre-1980s models. Even rusty ones can fetch value based on brand and design.
12. Dead Batteries (Yes, Really)
Hilary Halliwell on Pexels
Rare branded or old-style batteries—like Eveready 9-volts with vintage labels—are sometimes bought for display or industrial nostalgia. They’re not valuable in bulk, but unique ones can fetch a few bucks.
13. Hotel Matchbooks
Stephen Coles on Flickr
Matchbooks from now-closed hotels, casinos, or airlines are mini ads of a bygone era. Full books, especially unused ones, are more desirable.
14. Old Watches (Even Broken Ones)
János Venczák on Unsplash
That dusty Timex or broken Seiko could still be worth something to parts hunters or vintage enthusiasts. Classic designs and mechanical movement watches are especially in demand.