Is the Most Scarce Pokémon Trading Card Valued at $5.2 Million a Reality?
Trading the OG Pokémon cards? You're in luck! The Pokémon craze has been burning strong for 28 years, accumulating a colossal 52.9 billion cards in play. Now, let's take a dive into some shining stars of this wildly popular trading card game.
These days, PSA receives double the number of Pokémon cards for grading each year since 2015, surmounting basketball, football, and hockey PSA cards in 2018, creating a booming market for collectors.
Curious about the Holy Grail of Pokémon cards? We've got you covered! Here are some of the rarest ones from yesteryears as well as a peek at their ballpark values.
Skyridge Crystal Charizard
This holographic masterpiece originated in the 2003 Skyridge expansion, with an enchanting illustration by Kouki Saitou. With only one run of Skyridge, this cute lil' oldie but goldie card's value has skyrocketed! Among the 1,000 submitted for grading, a mere 230 secured the top grade, setting the stage for prices climbing north of $10,000!
Pikachu Illustrator
In 2022, the toppermost Pokémon trading card ever sold, the Pikachu Illustrator, was scooped up by YouTuber Logan Paul for a hefty $5,275,000. These bad boys were handed out to winners of an illustration contest in 1998, totaling 39 collectible treasures. Owning a piece of Pokémon card history is the name of the game with the Pikachu Illustrator!
Master's Key
In 2010, the Master's Key card made its grand entrance by being awarded to 36 finalists of the Japan World Championship representative tournament. This glossy goodie rose to the zenith of desirability with an auction house selling one over $66,000 in 2023!
Tropical Breeze
Step into the sunshine with the 1999 Tropical Wind card! Distributed in extremely limited quantities of 586 copies, this rare beauty exudes value with a single 2020 sale clocking in at a cool over $65,000! On the other hand, the intriguing Tropical Breeze edition, awarded at the 2001 Tropical Mega Battle to only 24 trainers, remains even rarer!
Pokémon Snap Cards
The rarest Pokémon cards ever were crafted to promote the Pokémon video games, like the cards from the 1999 Pokémon Snap set. When players won the game's contests, they were gifted one of their winning shots in card form! With only 10 copies and limited sales, the prices of these Snap-tastic cards have gone through the roof, with three selling for over $70,000 each in 2023!
So go on, immerse yourself in the magical world of rare Pokémon cards, and elevate your collection to new heights! With a little luck and a lot of coins, you could just end up holding the rarest—and most valuable—Pokémon cards in existence!
In the realm of entertainment, the Pikachu Illustrator card stands as the most expensive Pokémon trading card ever sold, fetching a staggering $5,275,000 in 2022. On the other hand, sports enthusiasts might find interest in the Master's Key card, awarded to the finalists of the Japan World Championship representative tournament in 2010, with one selling for over $66,000 in 2023.
