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Data as of Jun 16, 2026
Metallica – Master Of Puppets
1986 · US · Elektra · Vinyl LP Album
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Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Apr 10, 2026
- MMint
- $488.35
- NMNear Mint
- $436.94
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $334.13
- VGVery Good
- $231.32
- G+Good Plus
- $128.51
- GGood
- $77.11
- FFair
- $51.41
- PPoor
- $25.70
21 copies listed on Discogs from $86.
These are reference estimates from Discogs sold/asking data for this exact pressing, not offers and not a guaranteed price. Actual value depends on condition, completeness and current demand. Any active seller offers on this page are listed separately above.
Offers
New to condition grades like NM or VG? Read our vinyl grading guide →
Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- ST-E-60439-1-A-ARSTE-60439-A-DMM-1, B-22841, Sterling Sound - Dmm-1, Δ 11835 ɑ, ED M1 SF1 SM4
- Runout — side B
- ST-E-60439-1-B-ARSTE-60439-B-DMM-1, Δ 11835-X ɑ, Sterling Sound-Dmm-1, ED M1 SF1 SM4, B-22842
- Barcode (Print)
- 0 7559-60439-1
- Barcode (Scan, Format: UPC_A)
- 075596043915
- Recorded At
- Sweet Silence Studios
- Mixed At
- Amigo Studios
- Mastered At
- Sterling Sound
- Mastered At
- Sheffield Lab Matrix
- Pressed By
- Allied Record Company
Specifications
- Artist
- Metallica
- Genre
- Rock
- Style
- Thrash, Speed Metal
- Year
- 1986
- Label
- Elektra
- Catalog number
- 60439-1
- Country
- US
- Barcode
- 0 7559-60439-1
Tracklist
- A1Battery5:10
- A2Master Of Puppets8:38
- A3The Thing That Should Not Be6:32
- A4Welcome Home (Sanitarium)6:28
- B1Disposable Heroes8:14
- B2Leper Messiah5:38
- B3Orion8:12
- B4Damage, Inc.5:08
- Producer
- Flemming Rasmussen
- Producer
- Metallica
- Mastered By
- George Marino
- Engineer [Assistant Mixing Engineer]
- Mark Wilczak
- Mixed By
- Michael Wagener
- Engineer
- Flemming Rasmussen
About this record
The original 1986 US pressing of Master of Puppets bears the catalogue number 60439-1 on the vinyl labels themselves, though the spine reads 9 60439-1—a quirk of Elektra's dual-numbering system that distinguishes this first edition from later reissues. Pressed at Allied Record Company and mastered at Sterling Sound, this Elektra release carries the dead-wax matrix codes ST-E-60439-1-A-AR and ST-E-60439-1-B-AR on sides A and B respectively, marking it as distinct from the contemporary UK Music For Nations pressing and the later Blackened reissues that began appearing in 2014.
Demand among collectors exceeds supply: 8974 want it against 8829 who own one, yet only 21 copies are currently for sale, with the lowest asking price at 86 USD.
What drives its value
This 1986 Elektra pressing commands a steep price gradient tied entirely to condition. A Mint copy reaches 488.35 USD, while a Near Mint drops to 436.94 USD—a narrow margin reflecting the rarity of unplayed original stock.
The real market divide opens at VG+, valued at 334.13 USD, and widens further at VG (231.32 USD), where surface wear and groove damage become visible. The lowest asking price of 86 USD indicates heavily played or damaged copies in circulation.
As the original US pressing rather than the UK Music For Nations variant or the 2014+ Blackened reissues, this Elektra edition holds primacy in collector hierarchies. The want-to-have ratio of 8974 to 8829 signals sustained demand that outpaces available stock, keeping prices firm even for worn copies.
Only 21 copies listed for sale across all platforms underscores scarcity relative to the 840 community ratings recorded.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the Elektra label with catalogue number 60439-1 printed on the vinyl label itself (spine shows 9 60439-1). The dead-wax runout should read ST-E-60439-1-A-AR on side A and ST-E-60439-1-B-AR on side B, or the alternate Sterling Sound DMM mastering codes STE-60439-A-DMM-1 and STE-60439-B-DMM-1 with the Δ 11835 reference mark.
The pressing plant is Allied Record Company. Red and black Elektra labels are original.
The release includes an inner sleeve with printed lyrics. To grade: examine the vinyl surface under bright light for hairline scratches and play-wear patterns.
A Mint copy shows no evidence of play; Near Mint allows only light dust marks visible under magnification. VG+ permits light surface marks audible only on quiet passages.
VG copies show visible scratches and some groove wear. Do not confuse this with the Specialty Records Corporation pressing (Discogs ID 6776266), which is a later reissue variant.
Further reading: grading a record, what makes a pressing valuable.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
℗© 1986 Elektra/Asylum Records, a division of Warner Communications Manufactured by Elektra/Asylum/Nonesuch Records, a division of Warner Communications All songs published by Creeping Death Music, ASCAP Recorded September-December 1985 at Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark Mixed at Amigo Studios, North Hollywood, CA Mastered at Sterling Sound
Cat # on vinyl labels: 60439-1 Cat # on spine: 9 60439-1
Includes inner sleeve with lyrics Red/black Elektra labels
For Specialty Records Corporation pressing, see here: 6776266
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Other pressings of this release
Different editions of the same album — pressing decides value.
Frequently asked
How do I know if I have the original 1986 Elektra pressing and not a reissue?
Check the dead-wax runout on both sides of the vinyl. The original Elektra pressing shows either ST-E-60439-1-A-AR and ST-E-60439-1-B-AR, or the Sterling Sound DMM codes STE-60439-A-DMM-1 and STE-60439-B-DMM-1 with the Δ 11835 mark. The label itself must read Elektra with catalogue 60439-1. The 2014 and later Blackened reissues carry different catalogue numbers (BLCKND005-1 or BLCKND005R-1) and different matrix codes. The 2007 Russian Vertigo pressing and the UK Music For Nations pressings from 1986 have their own distinct labels and matrix strings.
What is a VG+ copy of this pressing worth?
According to the price guide, a VG+ copy is valued at 334.13 USD. This grade allows for light surface marks and minor groove wear but no audible defects during normal play. The estimate reflects market data as recorded in the price guide; actual sale prices may vary based on seller reputation and specific visible condition.
Why is there such a big jump in price from VG to VG+?
The VG+ grade (334.13 USD) to VG grade (231.32 USD) gap reflects collector sensitivity to playback quality. VG+ copies remain quiet during soft passages; VG copies develop audible surface noise. On a thrash metal album where dynamic range is extreme, the difference between clean and noisy playback is immediately apparent. Collectors willing to pay for VG+ are buying the assurance of listenable vinyl; those settling for VG accept compromise.
How many copies are actually available right now, and what is the cheapest asking price?
As of the last market snapshot, 21 copies are listed for sale across all platforms. The lowest asking price is 86 USD, which indicates a heavily played or damaged copy—likely in Fair or Poor condition. The price_guide values a Fair copy at 51.41 USD and a Poor copy at 25.70 USD, so an 86 USD asking price suggests either a Good-grade copy or a seller pricing above floor value.
Is this pressing rarer than the UK Music For Nations version from the same year?
The US Elektra pressing and the UK Music For Nations pressings (catalogue MFN 60 and MFN 60P) were both released in 1986 but pressed for different regional markets. The community data shows 8829 collectors own this Elektra pressing, with only 21 copies currently for sale. This suggests the Elektra pressing is more available in the secondary market than the UK variant, though both are original 1986 first pressings. The Elektra edition commands higher prices due to its status as the original US release and its association with the album's initial chart impact in North America.