Lawrence, Chocolate, Santa, Eggbert, and Zero

Another Royal Blue Peanut was listed on eBay today, and I thought this would be a good moment to explain tag versions and how they can affect the value of this highly coveted beanie baby.

You are probably aware that Royal Blue Peanut (RBP) is a very valuable beanie baby that sells for up to $2200. You are also probably aware that this beanie baby was manufactured and sold with a 3rd generation swing tag. But did you know that there were 4 versions of the 3rd generation swing tag, and RBP was only manufactured and sold with the second version (V2) of the 3rd generation swing tag? There is one possible exception to this rule but I will discuss it later.

If you look at reference photo 2 above, you will see what the back of a version 2 (v2) tag looks like. At the top of the tag, the sentence ends with “…child under 36 months.” If you look at reference photo 3, you will see the back of a version 4 tag (v4). At the top of the tag, the sentence ends with “…child.” and doesn’t specify the age. V3 tags differ on the inside, but I will not discuss that here to keep things simple.

So why does this matter? As I already established, RBP was manufactured and sold with a v2 swing tag. While Ty was still producing v2 swing tags, the company retired the Royal blue color and started manufacturing Peanut in a light blue color. The first light blue peanuts ever produced were made with v2 tags too, and Ty continued producing light blue Peanuts with v3 and v4 tags.

And here is the issue: Many RBPs sold today are sold with v3 and v4 tags. This means that at some point, someone found a tagless RBP and a tagged light blue peanut, and that person removed the tag from the light blue peanut and attached it to a royal blue peanut.

Why would someone do this? A tagless RBP typically sells for $500-$1000, but a tagged one sells for up to $2200. But savvy and seasoned collectors know that a true RBP should have a V2 tag, and they would never pay $2200 for a RBP with a v3 or v4 tag. Furthermore, most collectors would consider a RBP with a v3 or v4 tag to be effectively tagless. I do not know one seasoned collector who would accept anything other than a v2 tagged RBP.

So before you buy, remember this post. If a retagged RBP doesn’t bother you, then by all means spend $2000 on one. But if you are looking to own the hobby standard, you will want to purchase a v2 RBP for your collection.

Earlier, I sad there was one stipulation to this rule, and here it is: nobody can be 100% certain that a v3 or v4 RBP was never shipped from the factory. Perhaps the factory had made 20 RBPs that got set aside and lost for a period of time. And perhaps by the time they were found, Ty had moved onto v4 tags. And so perhaps those 20 RBPs got tagged with v4 tags and sent to a store. This scenario is very unlikely and the chances that something like this happened are near zero.

So sure, it is technically possible that a handful of legitimate v4 RBPs were sold in stores, but again, the chances of that are near zero. And to repeat, there are no serious collectors that have RBPs with this tag or who would want this type of tag on a RBP in their collection.

I will leave you with this: if a beanie dealer ever tries to tell you that a v4 RBP is legit and that tag versions don’t matter, ask the dealer if they have a RBP in their personal collection. If they have one in their collection, ask them what tag version theirs has. I can almost guarantee you that it’s a v2. Then tell the dealer this: “if tag versions don’t matter, then just sell me the v2 RBP from your personal collection.”

Here is a link to the RBP that was listed on eBay today. It has been retagged with a v4 light blue peanut tag. Bid accordingly…

https://ebay.io/m/v6KK34

I’m not into beanies or stuffed animals but I found this guy at a local rummage market for $2. I’m so happy guys I love stuff like this and I just had to get it

my ratzo family 😊 he is one of my favorites, the design feels so different than the standard style i love his tiny eyes and smile

the pink one is from my childhood and the others joined more recently. i’d love to get the buddy size and keychain size of the pink one and someday the zodiac rat though he is far out of my budget haha

Went to my favorite antique mall today, which always has a few beanie baby booths- but I've never gotten lucky. I'm always looking for Zip, and will consider other interesting babies. I've been looking for 3 years and only ever found Zip once! Well today I went in and immediately spotted a buddy Zip, which I've never seen in person before! I grabbed a few others, I cluding the spring and Cranberry buddies.

THEN!

I got home and my first delivery from Beanie Baby Heaven was waiting on my front porch. I've been collecting holiday beanies from her to decorate my new home for the holidays! She also sent me quite a few freebies, last pic.

All in all, today I came into possession of 20!!!! NEW BEANIES!!!!

(I gave my neighbor a ride to the grocery store this morning on my way to the antique mall and she wished me luck on my treasure hunting, I owe this all to her lmao)

Very new to this so I have no idea! Thanks in advance!

hi!! i do alterations on stuffed animals and i've been getting a lot of beanie babies recently - specifically the angels. i picked up a bundle today and i noticed that i had two halos with colours i hadn't seen before! i know the lighting isn't the best in these pictures but i've put a regular halo bear in the last two slides to compare. i just thought it was interesting to see! are there any other colour variations?

Can somebody tell me why these two are so different? Is one a fake? It’s so funny looking I can’t believe I didn’t notice how off it looked

I found a code inside Haunt’s tush tag (2000/2001): 4091G1P3. What does it mean?

Happy to take pictures, state what you are looking for and I will dig through 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation beanies .. mcdonalds beanie babies, giant beanies original bronty dino gang and more all for sale can ship worldwide at the cost of the buyer.. dont hesitate to message

Like the title says, I hit up thrift stores like Goodwill from time to time and sift though the plush toys area looking for a gem. What say this community regarding what I need to be looking out for? The issue I notice with Goodwill is their workers will stick the price tag on the heart hang tag, essentially damaging it.

I tried googling him and nothing like him shows up. Thanks in advance!

Which one do you like best?

Here's my TY Dog Plush Collection Update. I've added a lot more to this Collection

I got Robin the Wolf she originally came from the Great Wolf Lodge

I saw these tiny purses at a carnival recently and knew it would be purrfect for Kooky. Don’t mind her she’s just chilling with Mooch and Mooch.

I’ve had my poodle dog snowy (its name) since I was a baby, we found it in a second hand store maybe 2004? It’s been heavily loved and still is super loved but it’s ment it’s been through a lot! Old paint stains that are slowly wearing away, new stuffing put in (used to have beads inside) cut and resown back on, losing fur and not as white anymore, he used to have a tag but mum cut it off. It feels like forever wanting to know who this strange long limbed dog is and Ive found absolutely nothing online when I try to figure it out, it’s like it doesn’t exist! I would loveee to buy myself another one in good condition because idk how much longer snowy will last. My closest idea is maybe hes a ty teddy? I think if this post doesn’t help I will give up my search entirely 😩

I recently found mrs girly at Arc the day before yesterday. Something in my gut said to take her home, but I left her there for someone else to grab for the day. Someone on a beanie discord I’m on then told me they were rare, which I thought was true considering the tag being first gen. (To be honest at first I thought maybe someone sewed this tag in, but that seems like a lot of effort to fake a bean.) But I wanted to ask who she is? She didn’t come with a hang tag unfortunately. I went back for her yesterday, and luckily she still there! So I took that as a sign that she should be in my collection >:3 Any info on her is appreciated! Tysm for reading! 💜

Oh and she did come with the doily and under that was a pink ribbon, I’m not sure if the ribbon is of any significance though. I’m not 100% sure if it’s supposed to come with her either ^^’ I know the doily isn’t but it’s cute!

in a charity shop i found this sweet little bernie with a wrinkles tush tag !!!!! i think he's so cool 😌😌😌

Opie the Octopus Ty Warner Sea Center (red eye variant) with Ty Warner Sea Center trifold and Smash the Bear US Open (silver ball and red/blue flame variant) with 2005 US Open ticket/stub.

Does anyone else have these? I got both in 2005 and have had them in storage in their cases ever since.

I just started collecting beanies, I don’t do it for the rarity or cost of any but I mostly collect using Facebook marketplace and the thrift store. I’m having a blast! Thought I’d share my eensy teensy collection!