A Guide to the Most Valuable and Sought-After Cards in the World Pokemon cards are collectible cards that feature various Pokemon characters and their abilities. They are used to play the Pokemon Trading Card Game, a popular card game that involves strategy and luck. Pokemon cards are also valuable and rare items that can be traded, sold, or displayed by collectors and fans.
Introduction
The allure of Pokémon cards has grown tremendously. But what is the rarest Pokémon card, and how can it be distinguished? This guide will shed light on the coveted cards collectors desire and offer insights into the Pokémon card game universe.
what is the rarest pokemon card
The rarest Pokémon card is the “Pokémon Illustrator” card, with only 39 copies in existence. It was a prize for a Japanese illustration contest in 1997.
Fingers crossed that you still have any rare Pokémon cards up there at your place. Or maybe you’re wondering if your hoarded Charizard is worth anything?
Those who were Pokemon fans in the ’90s are likely to have a collection of rare Pokemon Trading Card Game cards stored away in a dark corner of their closet. During this fad, everyone had a few extra Caterpies and Rattattas laying about, and whomever obtained a rare card like a holographic Charizard was the envy of their classmates.
The constant release of new Pokemon trading cards has made it quite difficult to track down some of the more obscure vintage cards. The Pokemon Trading Card Game will continue to release new types of cards so long as the Pokemon video game business is financially successful, but none of them will ever approach the rarity and value of the most precious Pokemon cards ever produced.
The auction prices of the rarest Pokemon TCG cards have remained relatively stable over the previous several months, however some have witnessed significant increases. At an auction in New York, a rare Pokémon card fetched a staggering $195,000.
Here is a rundown of the rarest Pokémon cards currently available. We have every Pokémon ever created, from a pre-release Raichu to the legendary Pokémon Illustrator.
What is the total number of Pokémon Rare Cards?
Rare cards in Pokémon are distinguishable from other types of cards. The secret rare variant of each card in a newly released Pokémon set will be limited to a select few cards in each set. The Plasma Storm Charizard is the most exclusive of all secret rare cards.
There are not too many uncommon Pokémon cards available. On the other hand, the number itself is not. It is possible that thirty to forty new secret rare Pokémon will be added to the Pokémon ecosystem.
What Factors Determine the Rarity and Value of a Pokémon Card?
Several elements play a part in a card’s value:
- Release Date: Older sets often hold more valuable Pokémon cards.
- Card Description: A card’s attributes and art significantly impact its price.
- Market Price: Driven by supply and demand, the market price fluctuates regularly.
Pokemon card collectors always eye the valuable Pokémon cards from early releases, like the base set or those with unique artwork. Promo cards, especially those from events, also often command high prices.
How to Identify and Grade a Rare Pokémon Card?
Grading a card involves assessing its condition. A ‘gem mint’ status can shoot up a card’s value. Institutions like PSA offer grading services, ensuring authenticity.
- Look for any wear or damage.
- Check the card description for errors.
- Compare with known mint condition samples.
How to Determine the Value of a rare Pokémon Card?
It’s likely that your childhood collection of Pokémon cards is still sitting in an old shoe box in your mother’s basement. Rare Pokémon cards can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars at auction, but how can you tell if your collection is valuable?
There have been many different types of rare Pokémon cards issued over the years, and they are all quite valuable. Numerous elements contribute to the overall rarity assessment of a card
- A Pokémon card’s rarity is indicated by a black symbol in the card’s bottom right corner.
- The value of a card set increases if it was printed in the first edition and bears the “first edition” mark on the side.
- The value of a card set increases if it was printed in the first edition and bears the “first edition” mark on the side. The value of a card is determined by more than just the image printed on it. As a result of the great demand from collectors, the price of cards featuring popular Pokémon tends to rise.
- Some of the most sought-after cards by Pokémon collectors are limited editions that can only be obtained by participating in events, contests, or tournaments.
5 Holographic cards are more valuable than regular ones.
What is the rarest Pokémon card?
If it’s legit, a prerelease Raichu could be the rarest Pokémon card ever. Prerelease Raichu is arguably the most divisive Pokémon card of all time, and it is also one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever manufactured, to the point where tracking down specifics can be difficult.
What Factors Determine the Rarity and Value of a Pokémon Card?
Several elements play a part in a card’s value:
- Release Date: Older sets often hold more valuable Pokémon cards.
- Card Description: A card’s attributes and art significantly impact its price.
- Market Price: Driven by supply and demand, the market price fluctuates regularly.
Pokemon card collectors always eye the valuable Pokémon cards from early releases, like the base set or those with unique artwork. Promo cards, especially those from events, also often command high prices.
How to Identify and Grade a Rare Pokémon Card?
Grading a card involves assessing its condition. A ‘gem mint’ status can shoot up a card’s value. Institutions like PSA offer grading services, ensuring authenticity.
- Look for any wear or damage.
- Check the card description for errors.
- Compare with known mint condition samples.
10 Rarest Pokémon Cards
The vast majority of the cards on this list are incredibly hard to come by for one of two reasons: either they were part of the prize pool for a tournament, or they featured typographical errors, making them exceedingly difficult to find. Some of these collectables, much like the video games from which they came, have become harder to locate, and there are fewer sites where you can buy them. This is because there are fewer places that sell collectables in general. However, if you want to get any of them, you need to be prepared to spend a significant amount of money on them.
If you have been wanting to add to your collection, but you don’t know how to get the most out of your money, here are ten rare Pokémon cards that you might be interested in buying. Some of the Pokémon cards are rare because they have been printed more than once. Others are rare because they are the only cards in existence.
Collectors are willing to pay high prices for these cards because they are difficult to get. You may find that your card is worth hundreds of dollars, or even thousands of dollars. Of course, you need a lot of cash to buy these cards, so it will be very difficult to get one.
The list of rarest Pokémon cards is given below –
1998 Japanese Promo Card — Holo Pikachu Illustrator
Price – $6,000,000
Of course, when it comes to serious collectors of rare Pokémon trading cards, there’s only one card that can ever hope to steal the spotlight: Pikachu. Throughout its existence, this card’s value has increased consistently.
Because of his status as the most well-known Pokémon character, Pikachu naturally has the highest value among Pokémon trading cards. Winners of CoroCoro Comic magazine’s three separate art contests each received one of just 39 Pikachu Illustrator cards.
1998 Japanese Promo Card — Pikachu Illustrator Card
Price – $1,275,000
The price of a card will vary significantly depending on its current state of preservation. YouTuber Logan Paul obtained a PSA Grade 9 Pikachu Illustrator card from sports and gaming card collector Matt Allen in order to strengthen his collection in preparation for the purchase of the Grade 10 card. After that, Paul sold that card in order to pay for the Grade 10 card.
Since it has a Grade 9 authenticity stamp, this Pikachu Illustrator card did not sell for as much as the PSA 10 version did.
1995 Pokémon Japanese Topsun Charizard, Scarce Blue Back
Price – $493,230
This “Blue Back” Charizard is instantly recognizable due to its distinctive blue back. According to reports, just 31 of these cards remain, with one recently fetching $500,000 at auction. PSA has awarded it the grade of GEM MT 10.
A very early collectable that was in high demand among Pokemon fans. There were a total of thirty-one copies documented in the company’s census reporting, but this one particular copy was the only one that was validated by PSA at its highest level.
It should be brought to your attention that despite the fact that this unique item bears the year 1995 on its label, the number 1995 actually refers to the copyright or trademark status.
The card was first made available to consumers in the year 1997. An essential piece for any serious Pokémon collection, this Pokemon card comes in the rare and alluring Gem Mint condition.
This incredible piece pre-dates Pokemon “game” elements and instead goes back to the characters’ beginnings in the domain of “anime,” making it a true foundational aspect of the Pokémon specialization as a whole. This tougher “No Number,” blue-backed item shows the instantly recognized Charizard, who was, as he is now, an icon among Pokémon lovers. Despite being extremely specialized and exceedingly difficult to obtain, this item features Charizard.
1999 Pokémon Base Set Shadowless 1st Edition Holo Charizard #4
Price – $420,000
This is a first-edition, shadowless holo card of Charizard, another rare Pokemon. Considering that this was an early Pokémon design, there was no shading to help the artwork or text stand out.
PSA has graded this card as a GEM Mint 10, which is the highest possible rating. However, the drop shadow that was included in later printings is absent from this earlier edition.
It doesn’t matter how you slice it, the price of a Charizard foil is going to be quite high. Recently, this card rose to prominence because Logan Paul used it as a necklace before his bout with Floyd Mayweather.
1999 First Edition Charizard
Price – $369,000
This early Pokémon card, featuring the much-loved character Charizard, was designed without shadows and is now highly sought after. It was the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold at the time.
Your 1999 Pokemon 1st Edition Charizard Holo, even if it isn’t in mint condition, will still have some value, just like it had when it first appeared in packs nearly 20 years ago. It’s possible that it won’t be quantifiable in the tens of thousands of dollars.
To begin, it’s important to note that these prices apply to the 1st Edition. There are several variations of Charizard, a Pokemon that debuted in 1999. Each is highly sought after and can be purchased for a respectable sum. This, however, is the 1st Edition, as shown by the tiny piece of foil on the cover.
It’s important to note that the condition is the primary factor in these enormous sales. The high marks they received attest to the fact that they are among the best in their field. Only two have received a Pristine BGS score of 10. A total of 110 copies of PSA 10 were available for purchase.
Goldin auctions this rare Charizard Holo card from the initial printing without any shadows.
Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Holographic
Price – $369,000
The Blastoise card is solid. No one disputes that the misprint is what sets this card apart from the rest. Because there is nowhere to print anything on the back, it is often called a “backless” t-shirt.
This Pokémon card may at first glance appear to be a fake or a poorly made copy of the real thing. This card, however, is unique in that it is not a legitimate playing card.
As an alternative, it’s a 1998 Wizards of the Coast presentation card for their card game Magic: The Gathering. Is that it? To persuade Nintendo to allow them to publish the English version of the Pokémon TCG, which was launched internationally a year later. Supposedly only five cards were printed, but the one that went up for sale in January 2021 brought in $360,000.
Even though new information is constantly being uncovered, this famous prototype is already a mainstay in the trading card game (TCG) collecting community.
SM Black Star #TPCi01 Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed Pokemon GX Promo Card
Price – $247,230
Tsunekazu Ishihara, the original Pokémon Company creator, is pictured on this rare trading card. In honour of the 60th birthday he will be celebrating in 2017, this card portrays Tsunekazu Ishihara who started the Pokémon Company. The fact that Ishihara personally autographed this particular card lends further value to the collectable item.
This card was given a rating of Near Mint 7 by the PSA. The quality of Isihara’s signature was rated as a 9 out of 10. The ability of the card requires the player to flip sixty coins and then accept a present for each coin that they win.
Kangaskhan-Holo #115 (Family Event Trophy Card)
Price – $150,100
This promotional card was distributed at a 1998 parent-and-child tournament in Japan. The tournament was a competition between households to choose the best family. Families competed against one another, and only the winners were awarded this card. Some minor sibling rivalry could have been avoided 24 years ago had they known how much was at stake in this event.
Only 46 of these cards have been graded by the PSA, and this one is the only one to receive a perfect GEM Mint 10 grade.
This rare Kangaskhan card follows the general trend of collections. Where the rarest and most sought-after items are often limited edition and issued only at special events. At the Parent/Child Mega Battle Tournament in Japan, teams of adults and children received this card. Teams that won a certain number of games received this card as a reward. A Gem Mint 10 copy of the card didn’t sell at auction for over $150,000 until the summer of 2020.
Despite its seeming simplicity, this card is among the most sought-after due to its extreme rarity and high market value. Moreover, the card is stunning in its beauty. And any serious collector would do well to have it.
2000 Pokemon Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia
Price – $144,300
On the list of Pokémon cards, this is both one of the most fundamental and one of the most expensive. Simple Lugia from the initial production run. There are no extra gimmicks or flourishes. The grade of this card is a perfect 10, which is one of the reasons why it is so expensive. This item is difficult to obtain and will almost probably fetch a higher price in the future. We are continuing to monitor this situation.
Lugia appeared on the cover of the box art for the second generation of Pokémon games, and a lot of people have a soft spot in their hearts for Lugia trading cards. It is not unusual for collectors to own one; according to PWCC, the largest marketplace for trading cards, approximately 1,300 have been submitted; yet, only 41 have obtained a PSA 10 certification.
The PWCC speculates that this card will sell for an even higher price in the years to come. Beckett Grading Services, an additional reputable card grading company, assigned a score of 10 out of 10 for “Pristine” condition to this card.
Super-Secret Battle “#2 Trainer” Promotional Holo Card
Price – $110,100
This card was graded by the PSA as being in Mint 9 condition at the time that it was put up for sale. Only the top three players in the Pokemon World Championship event that took place in California in 2006 received this card. Players needed to amass points and secure a position in the finals of their respective divisions to take part.
Players who competed in the Pokémon World Championships in California in 2006 received one of only three copies of this card as a prize. Those participants who finished the competition with a point total high enough to qualify for the finals of their respective divisions received these prizes.
Due to the great rarity of the card as well as the prestige associated with earning it, a card in perfect condition fetched more than $110,000 in February of 2021.
Rare Cards vs. Playable Cards
While the Pikachu Illustrator Card or the Tropical Mega Battle cards are considered some of the rarest Pokémon cards, they may not be the most powerful in gameplay. Players and collectors sometimes have different priorities. What’s valuable for play isn’t always the most expensive Pokémon card.
Tips and Tricks for Finding and Collecting Rare Pokémon Cards
- Research: Understand the current market. Look for auctions or sales of valuable Pokémon cards.
- Network: Engage with other collectors. They might have leads on a particular card.
- Inspect: Ensure cards are in perfect condition before purchasing.
The Future of Pokémon Card Collecting
The future looks promising with the Pokémon Card Game introducing new sets like Brilliant Stars or Astral Radiance. Digital trends may pave the way for valuable digital Pokémon cards, bridging the gap between physical and digital realms.
Conclusion
The Pokémon games are some of the best video game franchises in the world. Pokémon cards are a series of trading cards created in Japan. The first set of these cards was released in 1996.
One of the most valuable sets of cards to be produced is the Pokémon cards. These cards have a golden star directly to the right of the Pokémon’s name. The cards were produced in Japan between 1998 and 2003. These cards were released in many countries.
Pokémon cards which are rarest can be pretty expensive. For example, one particular Pokémon card may cost a hundred dollars or more. Many people like to collect Pokémon cards because they think they are rare. There are certain rare Pokémon cards that are considered to be very valuable. Some are even worth a lot of money.
FAQ
Can you name the card that is the rarest among Pokémon?
The definitive response to the age-old question, “Which Pokémon card is the rarest of all time?” This card is one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever manufactured, as there are only seven known examples.
If a Pokémon card is uncommon, how do you identify it?
A black or white star indicates that the Pokémon card is at least rare. Verify if there is any holographic foil on the card. A regular rare card has either no foil elements or foil elements limited to the art.
What exactly is a rare, secret Pokémon card?
Any card with a collection number higher than the stated number of cards in the set, such as 101/100, is considered a secret card. Secret cards are holofoil and frequently rarer than the rest of the set.
How do I determine the rarity of my card?
Check the card description, compare it with known lists, and consider getting it professionally graded.
Is it worth investing in Pokémon cards?
Absolutely. However, as with all investments, research and understanding the market is key.
Where can I get my card authenticated?
Institutions like PSA provide authentication services for Pokémon cards.