I'm just curious how much the power 9 cards such as Black Lotus and the Moxes were worth on the market when mtg first came out. How long did it take for the prices to sky rocket?

I got into it around 4th edition, and at that point an Alpha black lotus was worth about $400. What is it worth these days?

I didn't play back then but i played early ish (started about when ice age was released) and back then black lotus & co was already worth a lot but "nowhere" near what it's worth now (in france it was about less in Francs back then than in euros today , and 6.5 francs = 1 euro).
Back then i heard about people trading black lotus for other rares equally pretty much , but the game very different with just the base edition , 3 mana 1 shot while the game was just starting and stategies weren't that refined wasn't looking better than having that monster 5/5 flying boostable at all.
Also back then double lands weren't very expensive yet, i wasted a nice oppotunity . . . someone had a PILE of dual lands, was selling them for 650 francs (about 100 euros/ dollars) , there were something like 80 dual lands there. . . (white border 3rd edition but still , these are worth 30-60 $ each today)

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Original post by ranakor (about 100 euros/ dollars) , there were something like 80 dual lands there. . . (white border 3rd edition but still , these are worth 30-60 $ each today)

D:

/runs to old magic cards to search for rares

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Original post by BeanDog I got into it around 4th edition, and at that point an Alpha black lotus was worth about $400. What is it worth these days?

An "Alpha" lotus in mind condition is just not possible to find at a reaosnable price (i mean even if you're considering other lotus as a normal price and those are already very expensive)
The only one i've seen for sale (and i don't think they really intend to sell it) that was really mind was up for 30K$ on Ebay IIRC.

I know i'm looking for one (currently working an Alpha P9) and think i'll have to pay 2500-3000 euros for one in NM+/M condition.

update : actually seems one in BGS 9.5 GEM MINT condition actually sold for 25K$^
http://cgi.ebay.com/ONLY-BGS-9-5-JSA-10-SIGNED-ALPHA-BLACK-LOTUS-MTG-MAGIC-/310254326291 (scroll down to description ,they say they sold one)