In recent times, there has been a notable increase in the popularity and value of Pokemon trading cards. Although these cards were once considered solely for children and held little monetary worth, they are now being traded by adults for exorbitant prices due to the newfound appreciation and rarity among collectors.
Several of these cards are currently on the market for hundreds of thousands of dollars, which seems incredibly unrealistic. Here is a list of the top 10 most valuable and elusive Pokemon cards:
The first battle of the Super Secret Trainer, No. 1, took place in 1999.
In 1998, a Kangaskhan-Holo #115 Family Event Trophy Card was released.
8. This is a 2005 Japanese Play Promo of Umbreon-Holo, also known as #026.
The Black Star Ishihara Signed GX Promo Card was released in 2017.
6. Pikachu No. 25 (1999) was snapped.
The third-place winner of the Trainer Bronze competition received the Trophy Pikachu.
Blastoise, also known as #009/165R, was released in 1998.
The 1999 First Edition of Shadowless Holographic Charizard #4 is highly sought after by collectors.
The second-place prize in the 1998 Trainer Silver competition was the Trophy Pikachu No. 2 Trainer Silver.
- Pikachu-Holo Illustrator (1998)
10 Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer (1999) – $156,000
This card has a distinctive background tied to it. It was only given to the champions of the local competitions in 1999, and it served as a confidential entry pass to the Super Secret Battle held on August 22, 1999, at an undisclosed location.
There are currently only seven of these rare cards in the world that have received official grading, and the most recent sale achieved an impressive sum of $90,000.
Top Selling Pokémon Card
This exclusive card was awarded to the victorious parent and child duo who won multiple matches while competing in the Parent/Child Mega Battle tournament held in Japan in 1998.
The card showcases an endearing image of a young and energetic Kangaskhan jumping alongside its baby, set against an abstract backdrop. This card serves as a tribute to the special bond between parents and their children as they face off in competition.
There are currently only 12 known copies of this card in existence, one of which was recently sold at an auction for $175,000.
8. Umbreon-Holo #026 Japanese Play Promo (2005) – $180,000
The card, as its name implies, was a promotional reward available at the Pokémon Players Club in Japan. It was exclusively awarded to players who accumulated 70,000 points by the conclusion of the fourth season.
7. Collectible Pokémon Card Sold for Record Price
This exclusive Pokemon card does not showcase any actual Pokemons, rather it portrays Tsunekazu Ishihara, the founder and president of The Pokémon Company.
The company’s staff received these cards as a celebration of Ishahara’s 60th birthday. One of them bears the signature of Ishahara himself, making it significantly more valuable.
6. Top Selling Pokemon Card: Snap Pikachu No. 25 (1999) – $270,000
This exclusive card showcases a victorious in-game photograph from the 1999 Pokemon Snap competition. Pokemon Snap is a rail shooter style game with first-person photography gameplay mechanics developed by HAL Laboratory.
Currently, the market only contains one officially graded Snap Pikachu No.25, which accounts for its significant value.
Top 10 Rarest Pokémon Characters
During the inaugural Pokemon tournament in Japan in 1997, participants who placed first, second, or third were awarded the coveted Trophy Pikachu cards as prizes.
The card features an adorable chubby Pikachu holding a bronze trophy. The worth of this card is greatly influenced by its level of quality and grading. A highly graded version of the card was recently sold at an auction for $300,000.
4. The Most Expensive Blastoise Pokemon Card Sold for $360,000 in 1998
This Blastoise card, originally created by Wizards of the Coast – the makers of Magic: The Gathering, is considered one of the most elusive Pokemon cards in existence.
There are currently only two known existing cards of this type. One of the cards has a Magic: The Gathering back, while the other has a blank back, making it even more rare.
The Top 10 Most Valuable Pokémon Cards Ever Released
A Holo Charizard first edition is among the priciest Pokemon cards currently in existence. One of the main factors contributing to its high worth is undoubtedly the widespread popularity of the powerful dragon Pokemon.
Despite its notable characteristics, what truly sets this card apart is its pristine PSA Grading of Gem Mint 10 and the absence of a shadow under the artwork’s border. This printing error, which resulted in a shadowless Charizard, was only present in the initial version of the card and was later corrected in subsequent versions.
2. Trophy Pikachu No. 2 Trainer Silver (1998) – $440,000
These cards, like the Trophy Pikachu No. 3 card, were distributed to the runners-up of Japan’s official Pokemon tournament.
The Pikachu holding a silver trophy is the featured design on these cards, and one of them was recently sold for $440,000 due to its exceptional condition.
1. The Most Expensive Pokémon Card Ever Sold: Pikachu-Holo Illustrator (1998) – $6,000,000
The Pikachu-Holo Illustrator is the priciest Pokemon card, with an estimated value of $6,000,000. It features a cute Pikachu holding paintbrushes and creating illustrations of other Pokemon cards.
There are fewer than 20 remaining in existence as they were originally awarded as prizes in an art competition during the 1990s. However, only those in mint condition hold such a high monetary value.
About Pokemon Go
Niantic developed Pokémon Go and Nintendo published the free-to-play augmented reality (AR) game in July 2016 for iOS and Android mobile devices.
The game, helmed by Tatsuo Nomura, incorporates the GPS feature on smartphones to discover, catch, train, and engage in battles with Pokémon. In-app purchases are available to acquire in-game currency for the procurement of diverse items. The game debuted with approximately 150 species of Pokémon, which has since expanded to around 600 as of 2020.
The game received acclaim from both reviewers and players for its unique concept and easy-to-use interface, making it one of the top-grossing games in 2016. It generated an impressive revenue of 1.92 billion dollars in the previous year alone, and has been downloaded over 500 million times, establishing itself as a leader in location-based and AR gaming.
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