Most were basic gray plastic shells.
Flash forward over 30 years, and these gold cartridges have become the stuff of legend for collectors.
The cartridge up for auction originally belonged to 1990 Nintendo Power contest winner Patrick King of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
The cartridge is a bit beat up, with its original label missing.
However, the direct connection to one of the 26 grand prize winners provides ironclad provenance.
The auction house seems well aware of just how rare a piece they have on their hands.
Bidding opened at a cool $10,000.
Prospective buyers will bepre-screenedto ensure they can actually pay up if they win.
As of writing, the bid has already touched $67,000.
