LEGO Sphinx Secret Surprise 5978-1
LEGO Sphinx Secret Surprise (5978-1) is worth about $586 on the secondary market today, against a $98 retail price. It has 347 pieces, belongs to the Adventurers theme and was released in 1998. This set has retired — LEGO no longer produces it, so supply is fixed and prices are set entirely by the resale market.
- Set number
- 5978-1
- Theme
- Adventurers
- Subtheme
- Desert
- Year
- 1998
- Pieces
- 347
- Minifigures
- 7
- RRP
- $98
- Market value
- $586
- Used value
- $125
- Released
- 1998
- Retirement
- Retired in 1999
Minifigures in LEGO Sphinx Secret Surprise
- LEGO Dr. Kilroy / Dr. Charles Lightning - White Shirt and Suspenders, Green Legs, White Pith Helmet
- LEGO Johnny Thunder (Desert)
- LEGO Lord Sam Sinister / Baron von Barron - Tan Shirt, Light Gray Legs, White Pith Helmet, White Epaulettes
- LEGO Pharaoh Hotep
- LEGO Pippin Reed / Miss Gail Storm - Tan Shirt, Red Legs, White Pith Helmet
- LEGO Skeleton with Standard Skull, White Mummy Headdress
- LEGO Slyboots / Sam Sinister
Sphinx Secret Surprise value by year
From $172 in 2016 to $556 in 2026 so far: +222%. Its highest year was 2026, at $556.
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | $556 | +29.3% |
| 2025 | $430 | +8.0% |
| 2024 | $398 | −9.1% |
| 2023 | $438 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $419 | −11.0% |
| 2021 | $471 | +21.5% |
| 2020 | $387 | +17.6% |
| 2019 | $329 | +48.8% |
| 2018 | $221 | +11.1% |
| 2017 | $199 | +15.6% |
| 2016 | $172 | — |
Median of each year's market prices, sealed, in US dollars.
What you are paying for
Its 7 priced minifigures are worth about $65 together, roughly 11% of the set's value — low for sets with minifigures, so the value is in the sealed set rather than the figures (typically 24%).
Frequently asked questions
How much is LEGO Sphinx Secret Surprise (5978-1) worth?
LEGO Sphinx Secret Surprise is worth approximately $586 on the secondary market today, based on current listings and completed sales. BrickStats updates this value daily.
Is LEGO Sphinx Secret Surprise retired?
Yes — Sphinx Secret Surprise (5978-1) has been retired by LEGO and is no longer in production. Retired sets have fixed supply, which is why their prices are driven purely by the resale market.
Has LEGO Sphinx Secret Surprise gone up in value?
Yes. Sphinx Secret Surprise launched at $98 and now trades around $586, an increase of 497.9%. See the price history chart for how it got there.
What is the price per piece for Sphinx Secret Surprise?
At its $98 retail price across 347 pieces, Sphinx Secret Surprise works out to about $0.282 per piece. Collectors often use price per piece to judge whether a set is good value.
Is LEGO Sphinx Secret Surprise a good investment?
Sphinx Secret Surprise currently trades 497.9% above its $98 retail price, and it is retired, so no new supply is entering the market. Past performance is not a prediction — condition, packaging and how long you hold all affect what a set actually sells for. BrickStats reports the numbers rather than giving investment advice.
Why is LEGO Sphinx Secret Surprise so expensive?
Sphinx Secret Surprise was released in 1998 and has since retired. Once LEGO stops producing a set, the only supply is what is already in circulation, so sealed copies in good condition compete for a shrinking pool of stock. That scarcity, not the parts, is what moves the price.