Ty Warner is a genius of artificial scarcity. If you grew up in the nineties, you know the fever. People weren't just buying toys; they were speculating on plush fabric and plastic pellets like they were gold bars. But among the hundreds of animals released, the August 5 Beanie Baby—specifically the ones born on that day—occupies a weird, specific niche in the hobby. It isn’t just about one single bear. It is about how Ty Inc. used birthdays to create a personal connection that felt almost cosmic to a kid staring at a heart-shaped tag.
Most people think "August 5 Beanie Baby" refers to a single character. It doesn't.
Actually, several iconic Beanie Babies share this mid-summer birthday. You have Claude the Crab, a tie-dyed crustacean who debuted in 1997. Then there’s Stinger the Scorpion, released in 1998. Even Eucalyptus the Koala shares the date. Why does this matter? Because in the world of high-end collecting, a birthday isn't just a fun fact. It’s a verification tool. It’s a way to spot a counterfeit. It’s a reason for a parent to overpay on eBay because their child was also born on August 5.
The Mystery of Claude the Crab
Claude is probably the most famous August 5 Beanie Baby. Released on May 11, 1997, Claude was a departure from the solid colors of early Beanies. He was "ty-dyed." This meant no two Claudes were exactly alike. Some were heavy on the dark greens and blues; others were bright orange and yellow. If you find one with a vivid, rare color pattern, the value jumps.
But check the tag.
Inside the swing tag, it clearly lists his birthday: August 5, 1996. For a collector in 2026, the condition of that tag is everything. If the date is faded, or if the font looks slightly "off," you’re looking at a fake. During the peak of the craze, counterfeiters flooded the market. They often messed up the birthdays or used the wrong font for the "5." Honestly, if you're holding a Claude right now, look at the spacing between the words. Real ones have a very specific, clean typeface.
Claude also had a poetic little blunder in some early runs. The poem reads:
Claude the crab paints all day
He's known at the shore for his colorful way
The colors are bright and showy and glad
A happier crab has never been had!
Some versions had capitalization errors or extra spaces. Collectors go nuts for that stuff. A "typo" isn't a mistake to a Beanie fanatic; it's a "rarity."
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Stinger and the 1998 Wave
Then we have Stinger. He’s a scorpion, which is a bit edgy for a line of toys known for being "cute." Stinger was born August 5, 1997, and hit the shelves in late 1998. He’s got these vibrant orange and black segments. Unlike the bears, which people hoarded by the dozens, Stinger was often overlooked.
That’s the irony of the market.
The stuff everyone saved in "mint condition" is often worth the least because the supply is massive. The weird ones, like a scorpion born on August 5, that kids actually played with? Those are harder to find in pristine shape. If you have a Stinger with a "Sticker Tag"—where the price tag from a local gift shop like Hallmark is still stuck to the plastic protector—that’s a piece of history. It proves the provenance. It shows it wasn't a mass-ordered warehouse find from a decade later.
Why Birthdays Became the Secret Sauce of Ty Inc.
Ty Warner understood human psychology better than almost any other toy manufacturer of the era. By giving every animal a name, a poem, and a birthday, he moved the product from "object" to "person."
Think about it.
You go into a store. You see a wall of plush. You’re looking for a gift. Suddenly, you see a tag that says "August 5." That’s your birthday. Or your mom’s. Or your dog’s. You aren't just buying a $5 toy anymore. You’re buying a piece of your own identity. This "birthday marketing" is exactly why people still search for the August 5 Beanie Baby decades after the bubble burst. It’s sentimental.
It also created a nightmare for completionsists. If you wanted every Beanie born in August, you had to track them down across different release cycles. Ty didn't release them all at once. He staggered them. He "retired" them without warning. One day Claude is everywhere; the next, he’s gone, replaced by a different August-born critter. This forced a secondary market where prices spiraled out of control.
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The Value Myth: What is an August 5 Beanie Really Worth?
Let’s get real for a second.
You’ll see listings on sites like Etsy or eBay claiming a Claude the Crab or a Stinger is worth $10,000. They point to "rare errors" or the August 5 birthday as justification.
Don't buy it.
Most of those high-priced listings are either money laundering schemes or people who are wildly delusional about the market. A standard Claude the Crab, even with the August 5 birthday, usually sells for about $5 to $15 if it’s in good shape. If it has a rare "1st Generation" tush tag (the little white tag on the butt), then we’re talking hundreds, maybe low thousands. But those are incredibly rare.
The August 5 birthday is a common one. It’s not a "limited edition" date. If you're looking to sell, you need to look at the Tush Tag.
- Does it have a red heart? (Generation 5 or later, very common).
- Does it have a "star" on the tag? (Usually mass-produced).
- Is there a stamp inside the Tush Tag? (This indicates which factory it came from, and some factories are more "collectible" than others).
How to Authenticate Your August 5 Finds
If you’ve found a box in your attic and you see that August 5 date, you need to do a three-point check. First, feel the fabric. Genuine Beanies from the late nineties used a very specific high-quality "velboa" fabric. It’s soft but doesn't feel "greasy." Cheap fakes often have a shiny, synthetic sheen that feels gross to the touch.
Second, check the "PE Pellets." Inside the Beanie, there should be plastic pellets. Early versions used "PVC Pellets," which are heavier and stiffer. Later, they switched to "PE Pellets." If your August 5 Beanie has PVC pellets and a mint tag, you’ve hit a minor jackpot. That’s a transitional piece that collectors actually want.
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Third, look at the eyes. They should be perfectly seated. On fakes, the eyes are often slightly wonky or glued in poorly. Ty Inc. had surprisingly high quality control for a toy that retailed for five bucks.
The Lasting Appeal of the August 5 Birthday
Why do we still care? Honestly, it’s nostalgia. We’re living in a digital world, but there’s something tactile about a Beanie Baby. The August 5 Beanie Baby represents a specific moment in time when the world felt smaller. You couldn't just 3D print a toy or buy a digital skin in a game. You had to go to the store. You had to flip through the tags.
You had to hope.
Whether it's Claude, Stinger, or Eucalyptus, these toys are anchors to the past. They remind us of the thrill of the hunt. If you’re buying one today, buy it because you love the color of the tie-dye or because August 5 means something to you personally. Don't buy it as an investment for your retirement. Those days are over.
Immediate Steps for Collectors
If you are looking to buy or sell an August 5 Beanie Baby today, start by checking the "Completed Items" on eBay. Do not look at the "List Price." Look at what people actually paid. You’ll see a sea of $8 sales and maybe one or two outliers.
Check your tags for "Creases." A "Mint" tag must be perfectly flat. Even a tiny fold reduces the value by 50% instantly. Use a plastic tag protector—they cost pennies and save the value. If you’re buying, look for "Museum Quality" listings from reputable sellers like BBToyStore or authenticated auctions.
Lastly, verify the "Generation." Use a site like BeaniePedia to match your specific August 5 animal to its tag generation. A Generation 3 tag is a completely different animal than a Generation 5, even if the birthday is the same. Information is your best tool in a market that was built on hype and hidden details.
Practical Checklist for August 5 Beanie Babies:
- Verify the Character: Is it Claude, Stinger, or Eucalyptus?
- Check Pellets: PVC is generally more desirable than PE for early releases.
- Inspect the Tag: Look for the "5" in August 5; ensure the font is consistent with official Ty releases.
- Color Graded: If it's Claude, look for "Neon" patterns or "Pastel" patterns which can vary the price.
- Condition is King: If the heart tag is detached, it is just a plush toy, not a collectible.