In Wisconsin, a remarkable discovery caught the attention of Jason Ganos, a prominent Nintendo game collector. A pop culture store owner mentioned a box containing Super Mario cartridges that had been in storage for years. This box turned out to contain 97 unique and pristine copies of the popular Nintendo game, Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt, released in 1988.

These cartridges are not only a new variant but also represent the last known production date for this game. Most will be auctioned online until September 9. Ganos expressed disbelief at the find, calling it serendipitous. Despite his expertise, Ganos could not estimate their value, but he knows they are extraordinary.

Kevin Braun, the store owner of One Stop Wonders in Waukesha, outside Milwaukee, initially reached out to Ganos to help sell other items. Among these was the box of Mario cartridges, bought from a customer whose family considered them metal scraps. The cartridges were produced in 1993, although the bundle was discontinued in 1991. They might have been warranty replacements or part of an unfulfilled retail package.

“It’s like pulling out a Holy Grail,” Ganos said, emphasizing their significance.

Recognizing the potential importance, Ganos quickly flew to California with the cartridges to have them verified and graded by video game experts. Five of these cartridges achieved a perfect 10 score from the Professional Sports Authenticator, indicating their exceptional condition. Such a score is unprecedented for NES cartridges.

Ultrarare cartridges like these, especially with unique production histories, may command six- to seven-figure sums in the collector’s market. Despite their potential high value, Ganos hesitates to predict exactly what they might fetch, given their rarity and exceptional condition.

Ganos and Braun are auctioning three perfect 10 scored cartridges at Golden Pop’s Culture Auction. They are each keeping one perfect 10 cartridge and a few others rated highly. Though functional, the aim is to preserve their pristine state.

For Ganos, these cartridges hold personal significance. “Finding uncirculated stuff for me is exciting,” he said. Super Mario Bros. Duck Hunt was the first video game he ever played and was integral to his childhood. After this auction, Ganos and Braun intend to hold a charity auction.