Restored Die-Cut T206 Honus Wagner Card Sells for $1.33 Million

The restored Die-Cut Wagner has sold for $1,337,263.20 in Love of the Game Auctions’ Summer 2026 Premier Auction.

The 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, graded CGC Authentic – Restored, drew 24 bids after opening at $400,000. The final price shown by Love of the Game includes the buyer’s premium.

CollectiblesNews.com previewed the card on July 25 as the headline lot in the auction, highlighting its unusual history, extensive restoration and decades-long disappearance from public view. The card is one of the most distinctive surviving examples of the T206 Wagner.

Its documented story begins in the 1970s, when it was purchased in a New Jersey card shop for one dollar in a heavily altered state. Much of the background surrounding Wagner’s portrait had been cut away, leading to its longtime nickname, the “Die-Cut Wagner.” The card later sold publicly in the 1990s before disappearing from view.

At some point after that sale, it underwent extensive conservation work. Love of the Game said damaged and missing areas were repaired using donor T206 cards, including one that supplied a new background and another that provided an authentic Sweet Caporal back.

The restoration was convincing enough that the card’s eventual owner, sports and political commentator Keith Olbermann, was unsure of its true identity. CGC later examined the card and determined that it was the original Die-Cut Wagner. The grading company encapsulated it as Authentic – Restored, making it the first T206 Wagner graded by CGC, according to Love of the Game.

Despite the restoration, the card retains strong visual appeal, with centered artwork, wide white borders and a largely clean presentation. Love of the Game described it as one of the most visually striking T206 Wagners known and emphasized that its unusual history is a major part of its appeal.

The $1.337 million result represents a dramatic increase from the nearly $10,000 price the altered card reportedly brought when it sold publicly in the mid-1990s.

While the final sale price may seem substantially lower that what other T206 Honus Wagners have gone for in the past, the key to keep in mind is that this was a heavily restored example of the famous baseball card. Restoration often dramatically lowers the value on collectibles. Even with the restoration however, the card commanded seven figures, speaking to the rarity and demand for the card.

The Love of the Game Summer Premier Auction closed early Sunday morning after beginning July 20.