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Beanie Babies Price Guide

Beanie Babies are a unique collectible. As a piece of nostalgia whose popularity was at its height in the 90s, the animal-shaped bean bags are still collected by numerous people. What each one is worth can be difficult to ascertain, however. Media accounts will sometimes make claims that are unbelievable. Princess, for example, is not worth $250,000. No Beanie is. Claude the crab is not rare. Valentino is worth $2 unless it has an older tag, then it might be worth a bit more. And its nose has always been brown.

This is a running list of sales that have happened recently. Given that many of these pieces only sell a few times a year, there is no simple way to know what the price of the next sale of the item will be. So, take the prices below with a grain of salt.

NameAnimalHang Tag GenerationTush Tag GenerationTag ConditionBeanie QualityMade InAuthenticatorAuthentication Certificate #Sold ByLast Sale Price
AllyAlligator11
BlackieBear11MMQChinaBecky's True Blue Beanie Babies071984$783.93
BonesDog11
ChillyPolar Bear11MMQChinaBecky's True Blue Beanie Babies075255$479.00
ChocolateMoose11MMQChinaBecky's True Blue Beanie Babies008407$250.00
Cubbie (Brownie Hang Tag)Bear11MMQKoreaBecky's True Blue Beanie Babies075241$389.35
DaisyCow11
Digger (Orange)Crab11MMQChinaPeggy Gallagher5421$250.00
FlashDolphin11
GoldieFish11
Happy (Gray)Hippo11
HumphreyCamel11
Inky (Tan, No MouthOctopus11MMQChinapbbags35428$222.35
LegsFrog11MMQUKPeggy Gallagher4030$250.00
Lucky (7 felt spots)Ladybug11
MysticUnicorn11MMQKoreaBecky's True Blue Beanie Babies066552$432.00
Patti (Deep Fuschia)Platypus11UngradedUngradedUnkownBecky's True Blue Beanie Babies026279$275.00
PekingPanda11MMQChinaBecky's True Blue Beanie Babies075262$484
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1st Generation Beanie Baby Hang Tags

Beanie Babies began production in 1993 and were on stores by 1994. The first generation was relatively unknown. Very few people began their collections during the time that these hang tags were on the Beanie Babies. The tags sport the familiar “ty” on their front, but with none of the frills of later generations. For really good counterfeits, the tag is regularly counterfeited – and one of the fastest ways to know that the critter you have is not real.

This guide to 1st generation hang tags attempts at being as thorough as possible. A picture of the 1st generation hang tag of each of the Beanie Babies that sport it is below. These pictures will be continuously updated as better examples are found.

It’s important to know that any Beanie Baby with the 1st generation hang tag will also have an all black and white tush tag. This 1st generation tush tag continued int 3rd generation hang tags. Additionally, if you see it, old Beanie Babies sold in the UK come with a triangular sticker on the back of the tag.

If you’re attempting to suss out a counterfeit, look no further than these examples. Start at the hang tag, look at the tush tag, and then assess the rest of the Beanie baby.

Ally the alligator

Blackie the bear

Bones the dog

Brownie the bear

Chilly the bear

Chocolate the moose

Cubbie the bear

Daisy the cow

Digger the crab (Orange)

Flash the dolphin

Goldie the fish

Happy the hippo (Gray)

Humphrey the camel

Inky the octopus (Gray w/ no Mouth)

Legs the frog

Lucky the ladybug (7 Felt Spots)

Mystic the unicorn (Tan Horn, Fine Mane)

Patti the platypus (Deep Fuchsia)

Patti the platypus (Raspberry)

Peking the panda

Pinchers the lobster

Punchers the lobster

Quacker the duck (Wingless)

Seamore the seal

Slither the snake

Speedy the turtle

Splash the whale

Spot the dog (w/o Spot)

Spot the Dog Beanie Baby UK version hang tag.

Squealer the pig

Old-Face Teddy the Brown bear

Old-Face Teddy the Cranberry bear

Old-Face Teddy the Jade bear

Old-Face Teddy the Magenta bear

Old-Face Teddy the Teal bear

Old-Face Teddy the Violet bear

Trap the mouse

Web the spider

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What are the Top 10 Most Expensive Beanie babies?

Some Beanie Babies are worth quite a bit of money. Most are worth almost nothing. After the Beanie Baby craze collapsed, prices fell to earth. At the height of the craze, Tabasco the Bull was selling for $500. Today, you can purchase one on Ebay for around $19 for a 4th generation Tabasco and as much as $100 for a 3rd generation Tabasco.

Before I write this, I have to mention that most of the lists online are complete bunk. Declaring Valentino, Claude, or Princess the Bear valuable is just not true. These were, for the most part, common Beanie Babies sold. They are extremely common pieces, and usually worth less than $10. The valuable Beanie Babies are older. They are the ones that were sold before the craze began. Most of the more expensive Beanie Babies will have 1st and 2nd generation hang tags.

Some of them were beanies that were not retired until mid-craze. So what makes them valuable is the tag that indicates they were from that first set of Beanies. I’m leaving off exclusive Beanie Babies here and going for the generally collectible units. There were many, for example, that were given out at company parties. These toys are valuable, but they didn’t appear in stores. Daily, Beanies are also sold as prototypes. These are neat collectibles, but, again, not the sort of thing that collectors could simply find in their collections. I’m also not including errors in this list. Most errors do not do much for you. Some do a lot. A princess that is missing the thistel, for example, is pretty valuable. An Iggy with a Rainbow hang tag is not. This list is accurate as of April 1, 2019. And it could change. But it will be the most accurate list you can find online regarding real prices of these beanies.

1. Peanut the Royal Blue Elephant Beanie Baby ($800-$1200): Sells Between $800-$1200. This might be the holy grail of Beanie Babies. While Peanut the elephant is relatively common, its light blue form is the one most often seen in the wild. The royal blue version was released for a very short time only. Many estimate around 2,000 total were made. And while there are rarer Beanie Babies, this is the one that started the craze.

Peanut the Royal Blue Elephant Beanie Baby

2. Inky the Gray Octopus with no mouth and 1st or 2nd Generation Hang Tags ($260-$700): Sells for beween $260-$700. This was a popular Beanie Baby that lasted long into the craze. But most collectors know it by its distinct pink fabric. The happy octopus also is usually smiling. But originally, Inky was a drab gray. It had no smiling mouth. Depending on the generation of the hang tag (1st or 2nd) this Beanie Baby is highly sought after.

Inky the gray Octopus (no mouth) Beanie Baby

3. Punchers the Lobster Beanie Baby ($600-$700): Punchers was disappeared very early on and replaced by Pinchers the Lobster. They are the exact same animals, exact same body, exact same fabric. But Punchers was only produced with first generation hang tags. Similar to Inky the Octopus, a first generation hang tag punchers will sell for upwards of $600 to $700.

Punchers the Lobster Beanie Baby


4. Patti the Magenta Platypus Beanie Baby ($535-$595): Sells for $535-$595. This is one of the original 9 Beanie Babies that came out. When introduced it was a magenta platypus… you know… like real platypuses. The later versions were more fuchsia. They are common and sell for very little.

Patti the Platypus Magenta Version

5. Any of the Old Faced Teddy Bear Beanie Babies ($502-$549): The bears were and are some of the most popular Beanies ever to exist. The colored bears come in two varieties: “old face” and “new face.” These are easy to distinguish between. The old face does not have stitching right beneath the eyes that give them a rounded face. The old-faced bear beanie babies have pointy faces. These are all worth between $500 and $550 depending on their tag.

Cranberry Teddy Beanie Baby

6. Wingless Quacker the Duck ($497-$449): If you’ve never heard of a duck with no wings, then you are right in line with Ty who quickly added some wings to the sad looking duck as well as an “S” to the end of the duck’s name. Generally wingless Quacker tilts to one side in a depressing sort of way. Highly counterfeited, Quacker is a valuable little animal if you have one.

Quacker w/ no Wings beanie Baby

7. Trap the Mouse ($90-$390): This little mouse is an oft forgot addition to the Beanie Baby collection. One of the earliest beanie babies, this cheese-loving critter is small, round, and worth a little less than $400. Crucially, it must have the first generation swing tag to fetch that incredible price tag. Its 2nd and 3rd generation hang tag generation will go for considerably less. A 2nd generation Trap recently sold for just over $200, and a 3rd generation goes for something south of $180.

Trap the Mouse Beanie Baby

8. Digger the orange crab ($60-$408): Orange is an odd choice for a crab, since that’s kind of the color that they turn when they’re cooked. Crabs and lobsters. Ty had the foresight when it came to Punchers. But not so much when it came to Digger. While more commonly known by its bright red fabric, Digger the crab originally was released as an orange critter. It was later changed to its more famous red color many years later. To date, the orange version of Digger, however, is sought after, and hard to find. A first generation hang tag Digger can sometimes sell for just north of $400. The price of the orange crab with later generation hang tags drops precipitously. A second generation might go for under $100, while a third generation Digger Beanie Baby will sell for under $60.

9. Humphrey the Camel ($358): This adorable camel is one of the oldest, rarest Beanie Babies on the books. Cute, yes, cheap, no. If you’re looking for a good quality Humphrey with a first edition hang tag, it will set you back a little over $350.

10. Slither the snake ($330). If Beanie Baby prices were sold based on length, Slither would win. Longer than 3 feet (46 inches), Slither is one of the most desirable pieces one can have in their collection. A Slither sporting a 3rd generation swing tag in mint condition recently went for $330. What Slither would fetch with a 2nd or 1st generation swing tag is anyone’s guess.

Slither the Snake beanie Baby
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What Are the Original 9 Beanie Babies?

When Ty’s Beanie Babies began appearing on store shelves 1994, he released 9 original animals:

  • Legs the Frog
  • Squealer the Pig
  • Spot the Dog
  • Flash the Orca
  • Splash the Whale
  • Chocolate the Moose
  • Patti the Platypus
  • Brownie the Bear (later renamed “Cubbie”)
  • Punchers the Lobster (later renamed “Pinchers”)

These Beanie Babies came with 1st generation hang tags and 1st generation tush tags. While most of these Beanie Babies were not retired until after the craze began, the originals with 1st generation hang tags are worth lots of money. While a 4th generation or later Pinchers the lobster might sell for $5 to $10, recently, a 1st generation Punchers sold for $899.99.

Punchers the Lobster sold on Ebay for $899.99.
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Are Beanie Babies Worth Money Without Tags?

Beanie Babies without tags are worth a lot less than Beanie Babies with tags. For collectors, while the condition of the Beanie Baby is paramount, the tag, itself, is an important factor in whether someone selling their collection will get full value. Often Beanie Babies without tags will fetch less than 30% of their tagged counterparts.

Beanie Babies without tags are worth a lot less than Beanie Babies with tags. For collectors, the condition of the Beanie Baby, itself, is paramount. But part of that condition is the tag. Keeping the tags in good condition is the only way a Beanie will sell for its full value.

Tags communicate a lot of information to Beanie Baby buyers. An old, 1st generation hang tag, is rare. Beanie Babies with these tags are old. They are uncommon by virtue of their age. They existed long before Beanie Babies became popular. For the collector, this means one thing: scarcity. 1st generation Beanies of all sorts are expensive. 2nd generation Beanies are expensive as well. But age isn’t the only thing that these tags can communicate. The tags are often used in authentication. While many counterfeiters will sometimes replicate Beanie Babies, counterfeiters get things wrong. Both the hang tag and the tush tag are often used to identify whether a Beanie Baby is legitimate.

It’s the 3rd generation where things start to overlap with the craze in the 90s. Collectors who purchased Beanie Babies early in the craze may have purchased 3rd generation animals. Some of these can be worth quite a bit. But most 3rd generation Beanie Babies with are nowhere near the price of Ty’s earliest animals.

It’s worth noting that the many of the earliest Beanie Babies were different than the later Beanies. Patty the Platypus, for example, was originally a magenta color. By the time of the craze, Ty had changed the color of the Platypus to a deep fuchsia. The difference is subtle. But the prices of the two Beanie Babies is very different. Likewise, Spot was originally released without a spot. The Spot with spot is worth quite a bit less than the original, ironically named dog.

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Authenticated Old-Faced Brown, Cranberry, Jade, Teal, Violet Teddy Beanie Babies w/o Hang Tags Sell for $107

In 5 different auctions, 5 authenticated old-faced bears have been sold without hang tags. These Beanies, which have the 1st generation tush tags, are some of the most sought after creatures made by Ty. Like the Steiff Teddy bears, they may be the most collectible Beanies in existence. We often see these same bears with 1st generation hang tags sell for just under $600 and a 2nd generation hang tag Teddy often sells for just under $500. Losing the hang tag could reduce the value of these pieces by 78% to 82% depending on what hang tag they started with.

Teal Old-Faced Teddy sold for $107. Authenticated by Pbbags.
Jade Old-Faced Teddy sold for $107. Authenticated by Pbbags.
Violet Old-Faced Teddy sold for $107. Authenticated by Pbbags.
Brown Old-Faced Teddy sold for $107. Authenticated by Pbbags.
Cranberry Old-Faced Teddy sold for $107. Authenticated by Pbbags.
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Unauthenticated, Counterfeit Bronty Beanie Baby Sells for $29.40

There are a lot of questions about what kind of value a Beanie Baby gains or loses by being authenticated by a reputable company. There aren’t a lot of recent examples of authenticated Bronty’s being sold. But there are bundles of the dinosaur trio: Rex, Steg, and Bronty that have been sold together. An authenticated Bronty is likely worth between $80 and $100. This would mean that not authenticating, at least in this case, reduced the price by as much as 70%.

Counterfeit Bronty Beanie Baby

As I look at this Bronty, there are a number of things I’m struck by. 1) the back of the hang tag comes out the shoulder of the animal. This isn’t usually how Ty’s hang tags are stuck on. 2) The hang tag is in the wrong spot. Ty puts Bronty’s hang tag in its left foot about halfway up. 3) The animal itself, looks a bit overstuffed to me. 4) While I can’t tell exactly from a photo, the material used seems incorrect. The colors are good, but the fabric looks like it might be a bit more like felt. This as compared to one we know to be real (which can be seen below). 5) The face on the sold Beanie Baby does not have a pronounced nose like the original Beanie Baby. More worrying still, this Beanie baby is used as the picture for multiple listings on Ebay. Stay away.

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Authenticated, Museum Quality Old-Face Cranberry Teddy Beanie Baby w/ 2nd Generation Hang Tag Sells for $520

For some reason the cranberry Teddy is often considered one of the most desirable of the Teddy Beanie Babies. This old faced bear is reminiscent of the old bear designs and evokes a classic look that made Ty’s Teddy’s famous. A crossover collectible that appeals to both bear collectors and Beanie Baby collectors, these are some of the most valuable pieces a person can have in their collection. This Beanie Baby, authenticated by Becky’s True Blue Beans, sold for $520.

2nd Generation Old-Faced Teddy Beanie Baby Sold for $520
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2nd Generation Wingless Quacker Sold on Ebay for Less Than $488.88.

A 2nd generation wingless Quacker was sold on Ebay for less than $488.88. The condition of the Beanie Baby is labeled as “Museum Quality,” verified by Becky’s True Blue Beans. The last wingless Quacker to be sold for $182.80 on February 26, 2019, but it had a crease in the tag. Before that, in December, a similar unit was sold for $513.89 on December 27, 2018.

This one was sold for the best offer, which we presume, was somewhere south of its list price of $488.88.

This represents more than a 5.12% decrease in the price.