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As an original NFL franchise, the Minnesota Vikings have a long and storied history filled with legends of the gridiron. For football card collectors, Vikings cards offer a treasure trove of highly sought-after cards dating back to the 1960s. Ranging from the classics to today's shiny new releases, Vikings cards capture some of the biggest names and greatest moments in franchise history.
In this article, we'll run through a list of the 5 most valuable Vikings cards of all time. From vintage classics of Purple People Eaters to modern rarities of All-Day Adrian, these cards command big prices on the open market due to their scarcity, popularity, and importance to collectors.
Kicking off the list is the 1961 Topps rookie card of Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton. This icon of the early Vikings leads the team in most all-time passing categories and was the face of the franchise throughout the 60s and 70s.
As one of the few recognizable rookies in the '61 set, Tarkenton's RC has always been popular with collectors. Graded copies in top condition go for north of $15,000+. It's the undisputed top Vikings card from the pre-70s era.
Tarkenton put up big numbers as a scrambling QB well ahead of his time. He twice led the league in passing yards and retired after 18 seasons with a then-record 342 passing TDs. Although he never won a championship with the Vikings, #10 remains a fan favorite and one of the top players in franchise history.
Jumping ahead 40 years, we have this extremely rare autographed rookie card of Adrian Peterson's. Considered one of the top RCs ever for the legendary running back, this Playoff Ticket is limited to just 100 copies.
As you can imagine, demand for Peterson's signed rookies far exceeds that tiny print run. Today, the card easily sells for over $10,000 in top condition. Vikings collectors chasing Peterson's rarest cards have to pay a king's ransom for his 2000's Playoff Contenders Ticket.
Adrian Peterson, nicknamed 'All Day', is one of the most dominant running backs the game has ever seen. He won MVP in 2012 after an unbelievable 2,097-yard rushing season. Peterson leads the Vikings in career rushing yards and touchdowns. His fully autographed rookies like this Playoff Contenders are highly coveted by collectors.
This 1969 Topps football card of quarterback Joe Kapp isn't his official rookie, but it's still his most popular and valuable card by far. That's thanks to the special #100 card number, which puts Kapp at the heart of this classic set.
The 1969 Topps football design is a favorite of vintage collectors. Finding nicely centered Kapp examples can command over $1,000. Despite not being a HOF player, Kapp's 1969 Topps card carries a strong premium over his other issues.
Joe Kapp spent three seasons with the Vikings in the late 60s, leading them to Super Bowl IV. He made a Pro Bowl and was the 1969 NFL MVP. While not the most flashy, Kapp was an important contributor during the Vikings early days. This special #100 card from 1969 is his cardboard legacy.
The next Adrian Peterson entry on our list comes from 2006 Exquisite - one of the most premium football card releases each year. Peterson's rookie year Exquisite autograph is limited to only 99 copies and contains a sizeable patch from his college jersey.
Slabbed copies of this Peterson RPA sell today for around $5,000 and up. It's from his actual rookie season, unlike the previous Playoff Ticket, and holds a special allure to collectors as an early high-end Peterson.
The Exquisite brand is only available via breakers, so Vikings collectors have to track this Peterson down on the secondary market. Between the low print run, awesome patch, and Peterson's elite status, his '06 Exquisite RPA will remain highly desirable for years to come.
Last but not least is another vintage Fran Tarkenton card, this time from the obscure 1967 Philadelphia NFL set. While not nearly as popular as Topps cards from this era, the '67 Philadelphia issue holds a special place for Vikings fans thanks to Tarkenton's unique #151 card.
That card number matches Tarkenton's career wins total - the most ever by a Vikings quarterback. Collectors have certainly taken notice, placing added value on what would normally be a common card. High-end copies can sell north of $500+.
It may seem like an odd inclusion, but Tarkenton's 1967 Philadelphia card perfectly captures the essence of an all-time great Vikings player. The #151 card number is no coincidence, as he tallied that exact total in wins during his Hall of Fame career.
And there you have it - our picks for the top 5 most valuable Minnesota Vikings football cards of all time. From Fran Tarkenton to Adrian Peterson, these rare Vikings cards represent the elite of the elite for collectors, with big money changing hands for cards in top condition. Owning any of these would be a major feather in the cap of Vikings collectors looking to build an all-time team collection of favorites from the Purple People Eaters era or later.
