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Rare Velvet Underground Acetate Sold for $25,200 After 75-Cent Street Purchase

A record collector's lucky sidewalk find turned into a valuable music artifact.

A record collector's lucky sidewalk find turned into a valuable music artifact. This is an original Token Times brief based on reporting by Bitcoin.com, with live market data added, as of Mon, 02 Nov 2026 06:00:01 UTC.

Why it matters

This story highlights the potential for significant value appreciation in rare music memorabilia, showcasing the intersection of art, history, and collectibles.

Key takeaways
  • Record collector bought acetate for 75 cents in 2002.
  • The disc was a unique 1966 Velvet Underground recording.
  • It sold for $25,200 on eBay in 2006.
  • Story underscores value of rare music artifacts.

In September 2002, record collector Warren Hill made a serendipitous discovery at a sidewalk sale in Chelsea, New York, when he bought an unmarked acetate for just 75 cents.

The disc was later revealed to be a unique 1966 recording session by The Velvet Underground, featuring frontman Lou Reed and originating from Scepter Studios.

This rare find, with its connection to one of rock music's most influential bands, underscores the potential value of music memorabilia.

The acetate was eventually sold on eBay in December 2006 for $25,200, demonstrating a significant return on a minimal initial investment.

This story serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of collectibles markets, where rare items can appreciate dramatically in value over time.

The market when this published · November 2, 2026
Total market cap₹256.29T
Bitcoin 24h+0.82%
Ethereum 24h+1.05%
BTC dominance58.5%
Fear & Greed37 · Fear

Rare Velvet Underground Acetate Sold for $25,200 After 75-Ce — questions & answers

How much did the Velvet Underground acetate sell for?

The acetate sold for $25,200 on eBay in December 2006.

What was the original purchase price of the acetate?

The acetate was originally purchased for 75 cents in 2002.

Why is this Velvet Underground acetate significant?

The acetate is significant because it is a one-of-a-kind recording from 1966 featuring the influential band and its frontman, Lou Reed.

Which outlets reported this story?

This is an original Token Times brief that synthesises reporting from Bitcoin.com. It is not a copy of any one article — follow the source links above for the original reporting.

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Token Times's newsdesk writes original briefs by synthesising coverage from across the crypto press — 50+ outlets including CoinDesk, The Block, Decrypt and Cointelegraph — cross-checking the figures they report — and verifying them against on-chain data from DeFiLlama and mempool.space — plus live market context (CoinGecko, Binance). We summarise and link to every source; we never reproduce full articles. Read our editorial standards and how we use AI. Not financial advice.

Market data verified against CoinGecko & Binance · November 2, 2026 ⛓ Timestamped at Bitcoin block #974,213 sha256:34cac4290bb0e465
Based on reporting by Bitcoin.com — this is an original Token Times summary with live market data, not the original article.Bitcoin.com · Nov 2 04:30 ↗

Original summary — not financial advice. This is an original Token Times brief that summarises a development reported elsewhere and adds live market data for context; it is not the original article and reproduces no part of it. Follow the source link above for full details. Crypto is volatile and high-risk — always do your own research.