The five highest paid punk singles on Discogs
The first punk groups, not yet having a recording contract, used to self-produce and print their own records – which, obviously, were always 45 rpm singles, of which the covers were often designed by the groups themselves. Today, one of those singles, released in just a few copies, can be worth a lot on the collectors’ market.
Discogs has listed the five punk singles that sold at the highest prices on its marketplace.
#1
“God Save The Queen”
Sex Pistols
1977
Among the rarest relics of punk history, the A&M 7-inch of the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” is a true gem — and a warning, too. Printed in 1977 but quickly withdrawn and destroyed after public outrage over the title, only a handful of copies survived the deletion. Authentic copies, recognizable by the knurled non-slip edge and the twice-repeated “7284” engraving on the B-side runout, are true Holy Grails for collectors. A certified copy — housed in an original A&M corporate sleeve and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity — sold on Discogs for $16,666 in 2018.
Sold for $16,666
God Save The Queen
Sex Pistols
1977
Vinyl, 7″, 45 rpm, single
#2
“Vengeance / In This Town”
The Fix
1981
A cornerstone of early American hardcore, Fix’s “Vengeance / In This Town” carries enormous weight among collectors — and equally important value. Limited to just 200 copies upon release in 1981, it was Fix’s first album and Touch And Go Records’ second release overall.
Of the original print, 15 copies are said to have been damaged, making copies in good condition even harder to find. A Near Mint copy, that is, in almost perfect condition, preserved in the archive of Flipside — a Los Angeles punk fanzine active from 1977 to 2000 — was sold for 15,000 dollars in 2025. Thanks to its impeccable condition, probably never played, it achieved a much higher price than other copies of “Vengeance”, surpassing another example sold for 12,995 dollars in 2023.
Sold for $15,000
Vengeance
The Fix
1981
7″, 45 rpm
#3
“Cough/Cool / She”
Misfits
1977
Before the skull logo and horror punk legacy, there was “Cough/Cool” — the Misfits’ very first release. Recorded at Rainbow Studio in New York City and pressed by Romaba Pressing Inc., only 500 copies of this 1977 debut 7-inch were produced. Released by the Misfits on their Blank Records label, “Cough/Cool” shows a different side of the band, closer to dark, minimalist punk than the furious horrorcore that would characterize them later. A copy in exceptional condition sold for $10,877 in 2021, a price that reflects both the record’s extreme rarity and its role in the origins of one of punk’s most mythologized bands.
Sold for $10,877
Cough/Cool b./w. She
Misfits
1977
Vinyl, 7″, 45 rpm, single, limited edition
#4
“An Ideal For Living”
Joy Division
1980
“An Ideal For Living” owes its value to the fact that it is Joy Division’s first recorded release, preceding “Unknown Pleasures” by a year. At the time of recording, the band performed under the name Warsaw, but changed it to Joy Division shortly before the EP’s release. Only 1,000 copies were released on their label, Enigma, later known as Anonymous Records. The packaging consists of folded cardboard, hand assembled by singer Ian Curtis and the other band members.
Despite the rarity, several copies are still traceable. Currently, three are for sale on Discogs, starting at just over $11,000. In 2024, a copy was sold on the platform at a record price, although it remains the only Near Mint version sold to date.
Sold for $9,090
An Ideal For Living
Joy Division
1978
Vinyl, 7″, 45 rpm, EP
#5
“Do It Yourself”
The Grout
1979
One of the rarest and rawest artifacts of late ’70s punk, Grout’s 7-inch “Do It Yourself” recently sold on Discogs for a staggering $8,000. Released in microscopic quantities and relatively unknown outside collector circles, this lo-fi track full of British rage represents punk at its most primal.
At the moment, a copy is on sale for just over $19,000.
Sold for $8,000
“Do It Yourself”
The Grout
1979
Vinyl, 7″, 45 rpm, EP
