Political Memorabilia That Might Be Worth A Lot Of Money In 2026

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Money and politics have long worked together to dictate much of American life, but that relationship doesn't always take the form of campaign donations or the efforts of political action committees. There are many collectors out there who greatly value finding and selling valuable political memorabilia. Whether it's vintage buttons, oversized posters, or rare signatures, there are many politically affiliated items out there of great value.

If you're new to political memorabilia, it's crucial to note not all pieces are popular or prized. For instance, Heritage Auctions consignment director Donald Ackerman suggested to Intelligent Collector that political memorabilia from 1964 or earlier is often the most valuable. While there are a few notable exceptions to this rule, burgeoning collectors should be willing to do research into the popularity of and demand for certain types of memorabilia, as trends in the collectors' market can fluctuate considerably. Many factors inform an item's value. For instance, historical significance can carry a lot of weight: Certain presidencies, such as those of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, are so well-known to the public that there is some level of perpetual demand for items connected to them. Meanwhile, a given piece's condition can also play a serious role in determining its value, so having an item professionally appraised and authenticated can be especially worth the effort. 

All told, the most popular and valuable pieces of political memorabilia could be items that genuinely surprise you. The following slides feature some famous and lesser-known political memorabilia that might be worth a lot of money in 2026.

Depending on your age, you may associate former First Lady Nancy Reagan with the "Just Say No!" catchphrase she spread as part of her effort to dissuade children and teens from experimenting with illegal drugs or alcohol. Others know her and her husband, President Ronald Reagan, as members of Old Hollywood. Long before Donald Trump raked it in on "The Apprentice," the Reagans represented the unlikely outcome of turning a career in TV and movies into a successful political career.

For some, Nancy Reagan was a political icon in her own right, complete with her own collectible political memorabilia. There are, for instance, Nancy Reagan campaign buttons of the 1980 election cycle. As we mentioned previously, a lot of recent election memorabilia — even if it's popular — tends to not be worth much. Even in good condition, many of these buttons have sold for just a few dollars on eBay.

However, if you own an oversized color celluloid Nancy Reagan button from 1980, you could be in luck. Intelligent Collector reported in Fall 2020 that one such button went up for auction and ultimately earned a successful $982 bid. A price tag that high shows that political notoriety can radiate beyond politicians themselves, and that collecting memorabilia for first ladies like Nancy Reagan could prove to be a rewarding investment on its own.

Though many famous pieces of political memorabilia are tied to famous male figures, the iconic Rosie the Riveter "We Can Do It!" poster stands apart. It defied the expectations of women to stay out of jobs and roles deemed "male-only" by actively encouraging American women to take on vital factory positions. Women followed the example of the Rosie the Riveter character into the factories at a rate never before seen. Some historians considered it a watershed moment, having a massive impact on the career trajectory of a generation of working-age American women.

Though Rosie was based on a real woman, Rose Will Monroe, the character is considered to be a larger-than-life feminist icon in her own right that appeared at a moment in time when some women might not have considered themselves capable of factory work. The original poster is unarguably an important part of American history, and an undeniably important piece of political propaganda.

Political impact aside, the memorabilia remains instantly recognizable and very valuable. A guest brought several of their own original Rosie the Riveter posters in for appraisal during a 2006 "Antiques Roadshow" event. The pieces were each determined to be worth between $1,500 and $2,000.

Pinback buttons are a mainstay of political advertisement, with the earliest versions dating back to 1896. By the time future president Harry S. Truman started his political career, the pinback button already had a few decades to become a familiar and useful part of political self-promotion. Truman, a World War I veteran, returned from his deployment and decided to begin a life of public service. In 1922, he ran for a judge seat in the eastern district of Jackson County, Missouri. 

Truman would go down in history for unleashing atomic warfare on Japan that would ultimately set the tone for The Cold War. However, long before he took over as president following the in-office death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, some say his time as a judge molded his political outlook and helped build the foundation for his time in the Oval Office.

The 1922 pinback button for Harry S. Truman's Jackson County judge campaign isn't necessarily well known. However, its political significance makes it highly prized. The pinback is sepia-toned in color, and shows Truman looking stern in his wire-framed spectacles. The button featured the words "Very truly yours, Harry S. Truman." This exceedingly rare, 4-inch button was sold through Heritage Auctions in 2019 for $5,500. The button's owner is reportedly willing to consider bids for the item, though Heritage recommends offers of at least $8,250 as of August 2026.

John F. Kennedy remains one of the better-known presidential figures in American history. Many consider his time in the Oval Office one of the most iconic political periods of the 20th century. Though his presidency met a violent end, his legacy has continued to hold value in the eyes of many collectors. To this day, his popularity impacts collectibles associated with his presidency, be it autographs or a Cuban cigar collection.

One such case is the "A Time For Greatness" poster from Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign. During a 2008 episode of the series "Antiques Roadshow," a guest brought the oversized poster in for an appraisal. The man shared that he was gifted the poster and other items after working for Kennedy's campaign. The items were appraised by Rudy Franchi, who shared that the large poster was quite rare. Apparently at the time, smaller posters were more popular at political rallies as they were easier to hold. Though weathered, Franchi valued the large poster together with several other items at between $6,000 and $8,000.

While PBS has since updated that poster's projected value to around $2,000, another 1960 oversized "A Time For Greatness" poster signed by President Kennedy was successfully auctioned off in January 2020. The winning bid, per RR Auction, was $5,236.

Though many Americans may be well aware of the assassinations of both John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, there are other presidents who have met similarly violent ends. The 25th U.S. President, William McKinley, was one of them. He was elected in 1896, while countrywide backlash to the Great Panic of 1893 left many Americans uncertain about the nation's financial future.

While vying for re-election in 1900, McKinley's platform was largely focused on the notion of economic prosperity. One iconic piece of campaign imagery includes a colorful poster of McKinley standing on a gold coin while holding the flag. The coin itself is held up by a group of men from many walks of life, and the poster displays the slogan "Prosperity at home, prestige abroad." The message promoting economic recovery was evidently effective, as McKinley did win the re-election campaign. However, he was assassinated in September 1901, effectively halting his economic efforts.

A "Prosperity" poster from this re-election campaign, 42 inches long by 28 inches wide, went up for auction in February 2018. According to The Hot Bid, the poster was originally valued between $10,000 and $15,000. It was later reported the poster sold for $11,875.

The 1917 World War I "I Want You!" recruiting poster may be one of the most famous depictions of Uncle Sam. However, it is not the first time Americans were introduced to the mythological character. Depictions of Uncle Sam date back to the War of 1812. As with Rosie the Riveter, Uncle Sam too would draw inspiration from an actual person. Many believe a government supplier named Samuel Wilson was likely the inspiration for the iconic figure. During the War of 1812, his family business was contracted to supply meat to American soldiers, who began to jokingly refer to him as "Uncle Sam." 

Years later, his nickname and likeness would take on a life of its own during the Civil War era — and eventually World War I. And yet, it was not Wilson who served as the physical inspiration for the poster.  Reportedly, a model was supposed to pose for the image but never showed up. Artist James Montgomery Flagg decided to use a mirror and effectively draw his own likeness. There were over 4 million pressings of the WWI poster between 1917 and 1918. While this would imply the Uncle Sam recruiting posters are common, they're still sought after enough to be worth a lot of money.

In 2004, Swann Auction Galleries valued the "I Want You!" poster between $4,000 and $6,000 before it was sold for a winning bid of $9,000. According to Paul Fraser Collectibles, another recruitment poster was successfully sold in 2013 for $14,500.

Political jugates are images that typically feature a presidential candidate and their vice president. While many associate them with buttons, there are also posters and banners of this nature that can command high prices. One such example is a hand-painted jugate banner for 1844 Democratic presidential hopeful James K. Polk. It's double-sided, featuring Polk and his running mate, George M. Dallas. This election saw Polk ultimately best his opponent, Whig candidate Henry Clay. 

Aside from these large banners, 1844 political memorabilia can be particularly sought after by collectors because this particular election is considered a major turning point in American politics. The legality of slavery and the annexation of Texas were heavily divisive. The narrow victory of Polk over Clay likewise informed the continued collapse of the Whig Party.

An 1844 Polk and Dallas jugate banner, therefore, was always destined to earn a lot of attention because of the political history it represented. However, it does help if it's well preserved. That was the case with a hand-painted Polk jugate banner put up for auction through Heritage Auctions in June 2015. The item reportedly measures 76.5 inches by 75 inches, and eventually sold for a bid of $185,000. Interestingly, it was not the only 1844 election banner auctioned off that day: A hand-painted banner depicting Clay and Polk was also sold off for a smaller $31,250.

Perhaps the most valuable type of jugate you could own would be a 1920 sepia-toned button featuring presidential candidate James M. Cox and his running mate Franklin D. Roosevelt. In fact, Hake's Auction once referred to a jugate button from this campaign as the undisputed "crown jewel of political campaign buttons" (via YouTube).

This designation was not earned on the back of a successful bid for the White House. Instead, Cox would lose decisively to Republican Warren G. Harding. Still, the Cox candidacy and the Election of 1920 were significant for a few reasons: First, it marked the first time American women were legally allowed to vote. Additionally, a year after the loss, Roosevelt would suffer the effects of polio, side-lining his political career for nearly a decade.

The 1920 Cox and Roosevelt jugate button is considered especially precious due to its scarcity: According to The Hill, almost no one gave the Democratic ticket a chance at winning. As a result, very few buttons of Cox alongside Roosevelt were made, as it was thought to be a waste of resources. These collectibles, despite being only 1 ¼ in size, are extremely valuable as only six are confirmed to exist. Per The Hill, one such button would eventually be sold at auction for a record-breaking $185,850. The sale was a reminder that even though you'd assume very large political collectibles would command the highest prices, sometimes it's the small things that really count.

In the aftermath of the fall of the Whigs, the Republican Party rose to power. Abraham Lincoln was ultimately the party's first successful presidential candidate. Easily one of the most recognizable presidents, Lincoln is known to everyday Americans through his likeness' presence on the $5 bill and the penny. And while even some pennies cost more than you'd think, other Lincoln memorabilia has also remained popular over the decades. His campaign posters are especially coveted, which may be due in part to how hard they can be to come by in good condition.

In 2000, an "Antiques Roadshow" guest lucked into an authentic Lincoln campaign poster, having acquired it in 1985 from a family friend. That friend's grandmother claimed to have pulled the poster off of the side of a barn. The poster, which had been carefully restored, proved to be worth a lot of money. Appraiser Christopher W. Lane initially gave a valuation of $25,000. In 2016, the poster's estimated value was increased to $40,000. Notably, this appraisal shows that, under the right circumstances, having an item carefully restored could be advantageous. However, those with worn memorabilia may still want to consult a professional before undergoing the restoration process.

As impressive as that valuation was, in 2019, another large 1864 Abraham Lincoln campaign poster would sell for an even more staggering amount: According to Heritage Auctions, the colorful jugate poster was initially valued at $100,000. However, it would eventually shatter expectations, earning a winning bid of $250,000. The poster, which reportedly measures at 41 inches by 54 inches, features Lincoln alongside his vice-presidential running mate — and eventual successor — Andrew Johnson.

Following the close of President George W. Bush's second term in office, many Americans were in search of a shift in direction. To many, the 2008 Barack Obama campaign for president represented a fundamental and exciting change to the American political environment. Part of that feeling was captured in the iconic "Hope" portrait created by artist Shepard Fairey. The collage image features Obama in faded red, white, and blue colors and wearing his campaign button. The word "hope" appears beneath Obama, written in all capital letters.

This particular design reportedly appeared on hundreds of thousands of posters and campaign stickers. However, the original artwork by Fairey is quite rare, representing just one of three hand-made posters for Obama that he created. One piece is held in the Smithsonian Institution National Portrait Gallery. The other two, however, are in private collections and have periodically been put up for sale.

One such event occurred through Heritage Auctions in 2022. According to reports, the "Hope" piece was originally valued between $300,000 and $500,000 (via Yello). It ultimately sold for $735,000. The second poster was successfully auctioned by Heritage Auctions in 2024. According to Just Collecting, the collage portrait's pre-auction appraisal ranged between $500,000 and $700,000. Though it did sell for less than expected — $400,000, per HENI — that's a pretty staggering amount of money given Obama's first campaign occurred less than 20 years ahead of the sale.