Think that box of action figures or those Christmas villages are just a passing fancy? Think again. The collectibles industry is a booming business. Sales of collectibles in the U.S. have gone up 63 percent between 2010 and 2011. In the U.S. alone, collectors make up 27 percent of all collectors worldwide.

Savvy insurance agents are taking advantage of the sales potential that the collectibles market presents. It's a virtually untapped market that's growing rapidly. Typical homeowners' policies fall far short of providing enough coverage for collections. Agents can increase sales by suggesting specialized coverage.

What's covered? Nearly anything that can be collected. Here are some interesting collections that are covered by collectibles insurance policies.