Definition
"Modern collectibles" describes contemporary production items. The exact threshold varies by category. Modern collectibles are typically high-population but can become highly valuable when top-grade populations remain scarce.
Why it matters
Modern collectibles trade primarily on top-grade scarcity and player/figure significance. Vintage trades on absolute condition and category rarity.
Example
A 2018 modern rookie card set has high overall production but only a few hundred copies graded PSA 10. Those copies command meaningful premiums.