Newly discovered T206 Wagner sells for over $5M

A recently discovered 1909 Sweet Caporal T206 Honus Wagner card, which had been pulled from a then newly released tobacco pack and kept in the same family for over a century, has been sold via Goldin Auctions for $5.124 million (including buyer’s premium). It’s the third-most expensive T206 Wagner behind the copy purchased for $6.606 million in August 2021 and the copy sold privately for $7.25 million in August 2022.

This Wagner received a 1 grade from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA); the other two more expensive Wagners were graded by Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC) and received grades of 3 and 2, respectively.

«We are honored that the Shields family chose us to represent this historic card that has been in their family for 116 years,» said Ken Goldin, CEO and founder of Goldin in a statement.

lore behind the T206 Wagner is one of sports cards’ most revered, given the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop asked the American Tobacco Company to pull it from production in 1909. Theories behind its scarcity range from a printing plate mishap to Wagner’s (unlikely) purported disagreement over hawking tobacco to children, to Wagner being somewhat of an NIL pioneer and objecting to his likeness being utilized without proper compensation.

It’s not the only Wagner currently in the news. An SGC Authentic (grade below a 1) currently sits at $2.318 million with six days left at Heritage Auction.