You’ve been scrolling through those old lists or digging through a dusty plastic bin in the attic, haven't you? Maybe you're looking for a birthday twin. Or maybe you're just convinced that one of those bean-filled critters from the 90s is going to pay off your mortgage. Honestly, the world of Ty collecting is a bit of a maze. If you’re hunting for a beanie baby birthday september 23, you’re likely going to run into a lot of "almosts" and "sorta" answers before you find the real deal.
The big name that pops up for this specific date is Nina. She isn't one of the "Original Nine" from the 1993 World Toy Fair, but she’s a huge deal in the Beanie Boos world.
Who Actually Has a Beanie Baby Birthday September 23?
Let’s get the facts straight right away because there is a lot of misinformation floating around on the secondary market. If you are looking for a classic, old-school Beanie Baby with this exact birth date on the tag, you're going to be looking for a while. Why? Because the most prominent character sharing this date isn't a "Baby" in the traditional 1990s sense—it’s a Beanie Boo.
Nina the Ballerina Mouse is the star here.
She’s part of the Beanie Boos collection, characterized by those massive, sparkling eyes that either look adorable or like they’re staring into your soul, depending on who you ask. Nina is a pink mouse wearing a tutu, and her tag explicitly lists her birthday as September 23. Her little poem usually mentions how much she loves to dance "all day long."
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If you're looking for a bear, you might stumble upon the September Birthday Bear. Now, this is where it gets tricky. Ty released a series of Birthday Bears (often called the "Birthday Beanies Collection") where the bear's name is simply the month. The September Birthday Bear has a sapphire-colored nose to match the birthstone. However, here is the kicker: those bears usually didn't have a specific day listed as a birthday in the way the standard animals did. Instead, the tag just says "Happy Birthday!" or lists the month.
Real September 23 Contenders:
- Nina (Beanie Boo): The definitive September 23 twin.
- The September Birthday Bear: A "sorta" match. It represents the whole month, so if you were born on the 23rd, it’s technically your bear, even if the tag doesn't scream the number at you.
- Custom/Store Exclusives: Occasionally, specific retailers like Claire’s or Walgreens had exclusive runs, but Nina remains the primary record-holder for this date.
Why Some Tags Don't Have Birthdays at All
It's kinda wild how much weight we put on those little cardboard hearts. But if you’re looking at a Beanie Baby and can’t find a birthday, don't panic. You haven't necessarily found a fake.
Early Beanie Babies—specifically the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Generation hang tags—did not include birthdays. They didn't even have poems! It wasn't until the 4th Generation tags (the ones with the yellow star on the front) that Ty Warner decided to add that layer of personality.
If you have an "Inch" the inchworm or a "Claude" the crab, and you're wondering why their birthday isn't September 23, it might just be because they were born in a "birthday-less" era. For collectors, the lack of a birthday on an early tag actually makes the toy more valuable, not less.
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Is Your September 23 Beanie Worth Anything?
I’ll be blunt: unless you have a Nina with a rare production error or a very specific prototype, you probably aren't sitting on a gold mine. The "Beanie Bubble" of the late 90s made people think every $5 toy would turn into a $5,000 investment.
Most Nina Beanie Boos sell for anywhere between $5 and $20 on sites like eBay or Etsy. They are cute, they are nostalgic, but they aren't "retire and move to the Bahamas" money.
However, if you find a September Birthday Bear from 2001 or 2002 that has a "sunder" or "surface" typo (common in many Ty runs), you might get a little more interest from niche collectors. Honestly, the real value in a beanie baby birthday september 23 usually comes from the sentimental side—giving it as a gift to someone born on the first day of Libra season (or the last day of Virgo, depending on the year's equinox!).
Identifying a Real Nina or September Bear
If you're hunting for one, you need to know what to look for so you don't get scammed.
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- The Nose: For the September Birthday Bear, the nose must be a deep sapphire blue. If it’s black or another color, it’s either a different month or a fake.
- The Tutu: Nina should have a distinct, ruffled tutu. If it’s missing or looks like it was glued on by a toddler, it’s not a mint-condition find.
- The Eyes: Beanie Boos like Nina have the "glitter eyes." Check for scratches; collectors hate scratched eyes.
- The Tush Tag: Look for the year. Most Nina variations come from the mid-2010s onwards.
What to Do Next with Your Collection
If you’ve realized you have a beanie baby birthday september 23 or you're looking to buy one, here is the best way to handle it.
Don't just throw it in a box. If it’s for a gift, buy a plastic "tag protector." They cost pennies but keep the value from dropping to zero the second the cardboard bends. If you're selling, take photos in natural light—collectors are obsessed with seeing the "tush tag" (the fabric one) to verify the generation.
Basically, the September 23rd connection is a fun piece of trivia for a very specific set of toys. Whether you're a die-hard collector or just looking for a "birthday twin," Nina is your best bet for a direct match. Just don't expect it to fund your retirement.
Quick Checklist for Collectors:
- Check the Hang Tag Generation (Is it 4th Gen or later?).
- Verify the Holographic Tush Tag for authenticity on newer Boos.
- Keep the Heart Tag attached; a Beanie without a tag loses about 50% to 90% of its collector value instantly.
- Look for Nina if you want the exact day; look for the September Bear if you want the birthstone theme.
To properly value your find, search sold listings on eBay rather than "active" listings. Anyone can ask for $10,000 for a bear; only the "Sold" filter shows you what people actually paid. Once you have a realistic price, you can decide if it's a keepsake or a quick flip.