CGC-certified The Legend of Zelda Cartridge Goes for Gold in Heritage Sale

In addition to the golden five-screw cartridge, a rare NTF2 test cartridge is among the CGC-certified highlights.

Posted on: 1/1/2026

More than a dozen early Nintendo games that have been certified by CGC are being offered in an ongoing Heritage Auctions sale. Online bidding is already underway for the Nintendo 8 to 64-Bit Video Games Showcase Auction, which is set to end on January 22, 2026.

A first production cartridge of The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) graded CGC 9.6 (lot 79019) is one of the leading CGC-certified collectibles in the sale. This cartridge is a coveted five-screw variant; Nintendo used five screws in their cartridges during earlier production runs of NES games but soon standardized a three-screw design. Five-screw cartridges are now especially desirable to collectors because of their rarity and place in Nintendo’s history.

Additionally, an NTF2 Test Cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1990) graded CGC 9.4 (lot 79025) is being offered in the auction. This test cartridge was used in Nintendo’s World Class Service program — an on-site diagnostic and repair service that Nintendo offered for their consoles — to perform diagnostic tests on customers’ NES consoles, controllers and other peripherals. Because of their age, many of these World Class Service program cartridges are yellowed, but this CGC-certified cartridge retains its solid gray color.

Other CGC-certified video games in the auction include: