Ultra Rare Nintendo Cartridges Found in Warehouse Could Sell for Millions

Two collectors discovered nearly 100 Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridges in perfect condition, manufactured in 1993, two years after Nintendo stopped producing them. Five of them received a perfect rating of 10/10 and could sell for millions at an online auction.

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• Kevin Braun found the cartridges in his storage unit, hidden behind Halloween decorations.
• Five of the 97 cartridges received a perfect 10/10 rating from PSA, something never seen before.
• The auction will begin on August 14 through Goldin Auctions, and prices could exceed USD $3 million.

The video game collecting scene has taken an unexpected turn with the discovery of nearly 100 Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridges in perfect condition, manufactured in 1993, two years after Nintendo ceased production.

The find, which will be auctioned next Friday, August 14, through Goldin Auctions, could break price records, considering that a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for USD $3 million last June.

The cartridges were found in a storage unit in Waukesha, Wisconsin, by Kevin Braun, owner of the pop culture store Onestopwonders. Braun acquired the box of games two or three years ago when he bought a lot of items from a man who had kept them in his garage for 20 to 30 years. What seemed like a simple collection of junk turned out to be a hidden treasure: the games were meant to be melted down to recover gold from the circuit boards, but for some reason, they were never destroyed.

The discovery came to light when Braun found the box hidden behind Halloween decorations in his storage unit. It was then that he contacted Jason Ganos, a Nintendo game collector with experience in verifying rare pieces, who encouraged him to open the box and examine its contents. Together they found 97 copies of a never-before-seen version of the cartridge that combined Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt, with labels, manuals, screws, and circuit boards different from the previously known copies.

According to a report by ABC News, which broke the story this week, the cartridges are especially rare because they were manufactured in 1993, two years after Nintendo officially canceled the game package that was included with most NES consoles in the late 80s and early 90s. Neither Braun nor Ganos knows why they were manufactured, which adds an air of mystery to a piece that is already unique in the world of collecting.

The Unexpected Find

The story of how these cartridges were found is almost as extraordinary as the games themselves. Braun, a veteran in the pop culture business, bought the box from a man who had it in his garage for decades, apparently forgotten. The games were destined for a metal recovery service that would extract gold from the circuit boards, but the process was never completed. When Braun finally checked the box, he found a batch of cartridges in perfect condition, as if they had just come out of the factory.

The discovery was not immediate: Braun had the box in his storage unit, hidden behind Halloween decorations. It was Ganos who, upon hearing about the cartridges, insisted that they open and examine them. According to the report, Ganos is a well-known Nintendo collector in the community, and his expertise was key to realizing that this was a never-before-seen version. 'You’re always looking for something special, but this exceeds any expectations,' Ganos said in an interview with the AP agency.

The cartridges show clear differences from previous copies: the labels have a distinct design, the manuals contain instructions that do not match known editions, and the screws and motherboard are from a different model. These variations make them even more coveted collector's items, as they demonstrate that there was production after the official cancellation date. Experts have been unable to explain why, but the rarity is evident.

Moreover, the cartridges are in almost perfect condition. In fact, before this discovery, no Nintendo cartridge had received a rating of 10 out of 10 from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) video games, the authorized grading service. Of the 97 cartridges found, five achieved that perfect rating, an unprecedented fact that increases their potential value in the collector's market.

An Unknown Version

The rarity of these cartridges lies in the fact that they were manufactured in 1993, two years after Nintendo stopped producing the Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt package, which was a standard on NES consoles during the second half of the 80s. The version found does not match any of those known in the market, and the technical details suggest that it was an isolated production, possibly for internal use or for some promotional program that never materialized. Ganos, who has sold many rare games, does not dare to estimate their value but acknowledges that it could be historic.

The authentication by PSA is a key factor. The five cartridges that received a perfect 10 are considered flawless, with no scratches, stains, or visible defects. 'It's something that has never happened before,' Ganos told the local media. 'In decades of collecting, I have never seen a cartridge with a ten rating, and now we have five all at once.' This rating is crucial because collectors pay substantial premiums for pieces in perfect condition, especially when it comes to rare editions.

The difference with games that have reached record prices in the past is that those came in boxes. The cartridges from Braun and Ganos do not have packaging, which could slightly reduce their value compared to a sealed copy. However, the uniqueness of the version and the state of preservation could compensate for that lack. Last June, a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for USD $3 million at Heritage Auctions, and five years ago, another unopened copy reached USD $2 million at the same auction house.

The fact that these cartridges are not in boxes does not seem to worry potential buyers. According to Braun, he has already received calls from collectors around the world interested in participating in the auction. The demand for such pieces has grown exponentially in recent years, driven by the nostalgia of millennials who grew up with the NES and are now willing to spend fortunes on childhood memorabilia.

Perfect Rating and Potential Value

The PSA grading process is rigorous: each cartridge is examined under high-intensity light, its weight is measured, the integrity of the label is verified, and the condition of the gold contacts is assessed. A rating of 10 means that the item is indistinguishable from a newly manufactured piece and could be displayed in a museum. Of the 97 cartridges found, only five received that maximum score; the others range between 8 and 9, which is also exceptional, as most used or even new cartridges show minor imperfections.

Ganos and Braun plan to sell three of the five perfect cartridges, while each keeps one for their personal collections. This decision will reduce the amount available on the market, which could drive prices even higher. The auction, which will take place online through Goldin Auctions, will begin on Friday, August 14, and has no reserve price, meaning the initial bid may start low, but experts expect it to reach tens of thousands of dollars per piece, without ruling out much higher figures.

Ganos, who has participated in rare game transactions in the past, told the AP agency that he is not willing to make estimates about the final value. 'I have no idea how much they might reach. They could sell for hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars. It's a unique opportunity,' he stated. His caution contrasts with the enthusiasm of the community, which has already cited precedents of USD $3 million and USD $2 million for sealed copies of Super Mario Bros. at auctions held in 2021 and 2026, respectively.

The absence of packaging is a clear disadvantage in terms of comparative value, but it also makes them more accessible to a segment of collectors who prefer to display the cartridges in conservation frames. Additionally, the rarity of the version and the fact that they are completely unknown in the collecting world could generate an emotional bidding war, driven by the desire to own something unique. In recent years, the market for vintage video games has experienced an unprecedented boom, with investors looking to diversify their assets with tangible goods and memorabilia.

The Auction and the Future

The auction of the three perfect cartridges will be the highlight of the Goldin Auctions event, but other cartridges will also be sold, albeit in lots. Goldin is one of the most prestigious auction houses in the world for sports and entertainment collectibles, and has already handled sales of high-value video games. The platform allows for online bidding, which expands the reach to international buyers. The event will start on August 14 at 3:40 p.m. EDT, according to the official announcement, and will last several days.

Collecting experts point out that this find could redefine the market for cartridges without boxes. So far, record prices have been concentrated on sealed and unopened copies, but high-rarity loose cartridges are also gaining ground. The perfect PSA rating is a distinction that few can match, and there are already collectors willing to pay significant sums for the designation. Some analysts compare this piece to the famous 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card, which has sold for over USD $6 million.

Braun, for his part, sees this find as a reward for a career dedicated to pop culture. 'When I bought the box, I had no idea what it contained,' he told ABC News. 'It took years before I thought to check it thoroughly. It's a miracle I didn't recycle it.' The collector plans to use part of the profits to expand his store and fund future treasure hunts for similar finds.

The immediate future of these cartridges will depend on the demand from collectors, but it could also attract the attention of museums and foundations dedicated to preserving the history of video games. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has already acquired historical pieces from Nintendo, and it would not be surprising if this unknown version ended up in such an institution. For now, private collectors have the first opportunity to acquire a piece of history that has been hidden for three decades.

Image from Unsplash.

This article was written by an AI content writer.