Perhaps the most difficult known regular release Ty beanie to locate is the misunderstood “brown nose” M.C. beanie bear. It is well known that Ty released the original MC beanie bear with a “black” nose, and a rare “brown” nose (Released August 14, 2001, and retired August 15, 2002 – it is understood that the “brown nose” varieties were sent out in 2001 during the piece’s original run – mailed out randomly to cardholders in the mail). But this is the extent to which most collectors understand this extraordinary bear. This post will only outline the first rare variety of this piece.
In actuality, Ty created many rare nose varieties for his original MC Bear. The least rare variation (but still beyond rare) is what the collecting community now identifies as the “dark brown nose logo/emblem M.C. Beanie”. Its nose has a dark chocolate brown background behind the Mastercard logo. This variety is very easy to miss if you aren’t looking carefully and is primarily why so few have been identified. Funnily enough, at least 1-2 of these rare bears have popped up on ebay over the years and gone unnoticed, selling for peanuts! Ty released only 12 of this extraordinarily rare “dark brown nose emblem” piece. Most collectors will hunt a lifetime for this guy and never surface an example. This piece is one of THE most underappreciated rare pieces in the hobby.
Another confounding factor behind this bear was the discovery that Ty in fact also concurrently released a “light brown nose emblem” variety. This guy will have his own separate post, but the color departure on this bear is a much lighter, honey red brown. Collectors saw this variety and assumed this was THE (only) “brown” nose shade to exist. The dark brown nose emblem variety in turn was then dismissed as the black nose emblem variety or as a “brown oddity”. It was only a few years ago that top collectors and graders in the hobby determined the light brown nose emblem and dark brown nose emblem examples were in fact separate styles entirely. This was independently confirmed by officials at Ty Inc.
The dark brown nose emblem bear was sent out randomly in the mail along with the common “black logo/emblem” nose bear. Ty did sign at least one of this variety (pictured below). Of the 12 made, our records have the location of four examples, including the signed variety. A fifth example is confirmed to have survived, but is in an unknown collection. Several collectors allege to have this bear, but we would be skeptical until picture proof is presented. It is also possible they have a “light brown nose emblem” example, and not this more camouflaged “dark brown emblem” variety. Earlier grades will designate both the dark brown nose emblem and the light brown nose emblem examples simply graded as “brown nose” or as “oddity brown nose” (example below). The grading distinction between both varieties, again, was only established a few years ago. This bear is absolutely one that MUST be graded – not in so much that we have seen counterfeits, but because so many collectors believe they have a rare brown nose variety, when in fact, what they have is the common black emblem nose example. We would advise using True Blue Beans (truebluebeans.com) – the premier grading service in the hobby. It is possible up to 6-7 dark brown nose emblem examples are buried in old collections or remain undiscovered/unidentified from the common black emblem nose example.
Updated note on Ty signed examples: We have confirmed that Ty signed 36 common black emblem nose MC bears, and (at least) one example each for all nose varieties, including the common black nose. The signed tags would all have arrived in the mail with a special congratulatory letter from Ty. These tags are mostly signed in black ink. We have seen 1-2 signed in gold ink as well. The rarer nose examples only came signed in gold ink. Pictured below- the black emblem nose bear signed in black ink, and a rarer example signed in gold ink. This gold ink was also used to sign the rarer nose varieties.
Rarity Tier: GHOST RARE
With only 12 examples made (confirmed by Ty), this piece fits in at the upper edge of the Ghost Rare rarity ranking. To be sure, not all 12 examples have necessarily surfaced or survived. It is likely a number have been lost, discarded, or remain undiscovered entirely. We know for certain 4-5 examples have survived and are in pristine collections, with 1-2 additional owners alleging to have a “brown nose” variety in their collections (with no proof provided;). We would guess maybe 2-3 additional examples are presently off the collecting radar buried in old collections. When a genuine graded example does pop up, expect prices to be high, and competition to be fierce. Remember, this is a distinct style variety – not an oddity. A collection cannot be called “complete” without an example. You will see dozens of Billionaires, Rep bears, royal blue peanuts, even a handful of chef bears etc. before you come across a single example of this piece.
Rarest Beans 