PSA Perfect-Scored NES Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt Cartridges

A cache of nearly a hundred NES cartridges tied to the Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt duo has surfaced in Wisconsin—revealing a previously unknown 1993 production run and, in the most dramatic twist, cartridges PSA has graded with the first ever perfect score for NES.

Key takeaways

A forgotten batch of 97 NES cartridges was uncovered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, after being stored for more than 30 years.
The cartridges point to an unrecorded Nintendo production series from 1993 for Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt.
PSA authenticated the batch and awarded the first perfect PSA 10 grade ever reported for NES cartridges.
Several cartridges were initially expected to be sold for $15 each, but the proven rarity has triggered high-value collector interest.
Goldin Auctions has listings starting this week, including at least one PSA 10-certified cartridge, and proceeds are planned to support charity.

How a retirement-era cleanup turned into a rare discovery

The story begins at OneStopWonders, a retro games shop run by Kevin Braun in Waukesha. Braun had acquired the lot from the grandson of a former services provider. Decades earlier, that provider’s business had been tasked by Nintendo to destroy certain materials and recover valuable metals.

In this case, the cartridges were saved at the last moment, individually packed, and then left in storage—where they remained untouched until they eventually resurfaced. Braun’s account later caught the attention of Jason Ganos, a writer at Nintendo Wire, during an informal conversation. Ganos described the moment he realized what the collection represented, saying he immediately felt overwhelmed after hearing the full background.

A 1993 variant of a famously common NES pack

Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt are widely known and commonly found today, including because they were sold together in a pack starting in 1988. What makes this batch different is what the manufacturing identifiers reveal: the cartridges indicate production from 1993, later than any run previously documented by the community.

Closer inspection also turned up multiple details that were not typical of earlier reported versions. The cartridges feature a bilingual rear label, a motherboard revision, and unique typography, color patterns, and serial numbers. Even the instruction booklet is described as an entirely new version for this set. Ganos emphasized the historical significance, calling it the latest known production run and an unprecedented variant of Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt, noting that most cartridges were preserved in excellent condition.

PSA certification and the first perfect NES cartridge grade

To address concerns about authenticity and to confirm condition, the cartridges were submitted for grading with PSA. The results were decisive: the cartridges were verified as authentic and preserved at an exceptional level. Most received grades between 9.6 and 9.8.

Five cartridges earned the top score—PSA 10. PSA’s perfect grade for NES cartridges had not been awarded previously, making this batch a milestone for collectors and graders alike.

At the time Braun expected to sell the games, he planned to list them at $15 each in his store, a figure far below what the market can support for this kind of verified rarity. As a reference point, a sealed Super Mario Bros. copy graded 9.6 by PSA reportedly sold for $3 million in June. That comparison underscores how quickly a verified, condition-backed discovery can reshape valuation in retro gaming.

Auctions begin this week, with planned charity donations

Goldin Auctions will place three cartridges from the collection up for auction starting this week, including one certified PSA 10. Braun and Ganos plan to keep a small number for personal collecting, while the remainder of the batch will be sold gradually.

They also plan to donate part of the proceeds to charity as the rest of the collection comes to market.