How Do You Know If Your Pokemon Cards Are Valuable
If you have a stack of Pokemon cards you collected several years ago that are packed away somewhere in a box, you should consider getting them out and checking to see if they are worth any money?
Some people may pay you a good price for rare cards. But how do you know if your cards are rare or valuable?
The easiest way to know if you have any valuable Pokemon cards is by heading to a site like EBay and seeing what other similar cards have sold for. If your card is in better or worse condition than the one that was sold then you can adjust the value up or down.
Look at the symbols on the bottom right of the cards. A circle is common, a diamond is uncommon, and a star means it is rare. If you have a Pokemon card that was made from 1999 or the early 2000s that says Wizards of the Coast on it could be examined more closely to check for rarity.
First edition Pokemon cards will have a first edition stamp at the bottom and to the left of the artwork.
Another thing you can look for is the collectors number. Supposedly cards have a collectors number that is higher than the total number of cards printed in that set.
If there isnt a collectors card, it was probably printed early. Though, Japanese cards didnt start putting a collectors number on thor cards for a while after, so you will need to check on it.
The condition of the card will increase or decrease its value. If you are selling low value cards, consider selling them in bulk for a greater profit.
What Are The Top 10 Rarest Pokmon Cards
- Ex Deoxys GOLD STAR HOLO Rayquaza #107.
- Ex Deoxys GOLD STAR HOLO Rayquaza #107.
- 1999 Japanese Tropical Mega Battle NO.
- 1999 Japanese Tropical Mega Battle NO.
- EX Dragon Frontiers GOLD STAR HOLO Charizard #100.
- EX Dragon Frontiers GOLD STAR HOLO Charizard #100.
- Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind PROMO card.
Black Star Movie Promotional Cards With Inverse Stamp Error
Along with the misprinted Mewtwo card with the movie stamp printed upside down, there were several other misprinted promotional cards. They include several Pokémon who have the misprinted stamp on the bottom of the card as well.
Not many of these have been found, but there are still some out there that have been unrecorded. Break out the old box thats been gathering dust and find your gold mine, or it might be nice to see some old favorites of yours.
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Tamamushi University Magikarp Trophy Promo
- Release Date: 1998
- Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
- Pokemon card value at auction: $66,100
In 1998, Shogakukans Magazines in Japan offered a contest for school students. Fans that took the various tests offered in the publication could send them back to the company to have them graded.
Those studious enough to pass with high scores were then invited to a special conference held in Osaka of that year. Once there, the children got to participate in a unique Pokemon card battle tournament. Winners of the rare contest ultimately received the Magikarp Trophy Pokemon card Promo.
Due to the insane obscurity of how the TCG item was given out, its easily one of the rarest Pokemon cards on our list. It was not very surprising then when the Trophy collectible went up for auction in February 2021 and sold for $66k at PWCC.
Holographic Shadowless Blastoise: $2475
Out of the three final-evolution Kanto starters, it’s Blastoise who has the least valuable Shadowless holographic card, reaching heights of $2475 on Pokemon Prices. We say “least valuable”, but that’s still a lot of money for just the one card, and its hardly far behind its sibling Venusaur.
That’s if Blastoise is still in mint condition, of course, which is a big ask considering these cards are over 20 years old. Carrying the powerful Water-type move Hydro Pump, this version of Blastoise was a pretty impressive card to carry in your deck back in the day, but at this point its still a solid collectible card.
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Pm Japanese Xy Umbreon
This Umbreon card was awarded as the winners prize for the Pokémon Card Gym Umbreon Night Battle that was held between June1 and June 30 of 2015, at participating Pokémon Gym Stores. This card features a Darkness- type Stage 1 Umbreon with artwork by Kawayoo. The artwork shows Umbreon in the top left of the card in a wooded area. The holo on the card makes the wooded area seem to light up. Because this card was only given to the winners of the Night Battle, there are not many of these cards in circulation making them pretty valuable.
PSA Population Account:
Only 70 of these Umbreon Pokémon Gym Promo cards have been graded by the PSA. The lowest grade given was an EX- 5. There have been 57 of these cards graded a perfect Gem Mint 10 condition.
Average Selling Price: $2,800
No 1 Trainer Super Secret Battle
- Release Date: 1999
- Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
- Pokemon card value at auction: $90,000
In 1999, The Pokemon Company hosted regional contests in Japan. Winners received a No. 1 Trainer Pokemon card which granted them access to the final that took place in a secret location.
Named Super Secret Battle, the special TCG tournament had a lot of mystique surrounding it. The rare Pokemon card features a silhouette of Mewtwo which has made it all the more desirable to fans.
In July 2020, the Japanese promo sold for an astonishing $90,000 making it one of the most valuable Pokemon cards to ever exist.
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Valuable: 1st Edition Pikachu
Whilst the 1st edition Squirtle card isnt worth the world, this Pikachu one certainly is. What makes it so valuable is how rare it is, especially since there are actually two versions of this, one with red cheeks and one with yellow cheeks . Therefore, the red cheeks edition is much more valuable.
Coming in at an average of $400 , this card is particularly sought after and if any collectors have one, you could make some pretty good money!
Tropical Mega Battle No 2 Trainer
- Release Date: 1999
- Grading: PSA Authentic
- Pokemon card value at auction: $50,300
Interestingly, this is the first Pokemon card in the top 20 that is so poor quality-wise, it didnt even receive a grade. In situations like this, PSA will still give it an official Authentication. Dont let the grading fool you, though, as the Tropical No. 2 Trainer card is pristine except the back which has color loss and fading due to the sun.
Given out originally at the 1999 Mega Battle tournament in Japan, only the top players received this Pokemon card. In total, PSA has only seen five of these, making it one of the rarest Pokemon cards in existence. Its so scarce that its still worth a jaw-dropping amount despite its quality setbacks think about that.
According to PWCC, one of these green Exeggutor prizes was sold at an auction in October 2020 for $50,300. Its fascinating to think that even a damaged card can sell for as much as a sports car. And this Pokemon cards value will only continue to climb given that they just dont exist.
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What Is A Shadowless Pokemon Card
If youre new, or getting back into the world of Pokemon cards, youve probably heard the word shadowless banded around.
Shadowless Pokemon cards are the earliest version of the 1999 English Base Set.
Because of their scarcity and rarity, they are considerably more valuable than the Unlimited Base Set that was produced shortly after.
What Are The Chances Of Getting A Gx Pokemon Card
GX Pokemon Cards were meant to have a massive impact on the format of the game. A GX Pokemon card has a pull rate of about 1 in every 9 booster packs. This means that there could be up to 4 GX cards in a single booster box.
The full art GX Pokemon cards had a pull rate of around 1 in every 18 packs. Although do bear in mind that those cards had the same stats, they were just rarer.
If you are after a specific GX card for any reason, then it may not be worth trying to pull it from an actual pack of cards. They are too rare. You may as well just try and pay out of pocket for them. You stand a much, much better chance of getting the card that you want.
Did you know Pokemon booster boxes usually sell for more than the suggested retail? This is mostly caused by supply and demand. and you may be surprised at just how lucrative it is to hold onto booster boxes and sell them at a later date.
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Magikarp Tamamushi University Promo Card
Released only in Japan as a promotional card for the Tamamushi University Hyper Test in 1998. The contestants were separated in Pokémon gyms, then they competed with each other and the winners went on to the next day. Then, if they won during the second day, they would receive the Magikarp card.
This card can be worth at anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000, and only around a 1,000 were ever made for distribution. Its unknown if all 1,000 were distributed or if there are 1,000 left. So heads up if you have it.
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Holo Gold Star Rayquaza: $4500
Rather than many cards on this list, this Shiny Rayquaza from the EX Deoxys set is a rare Pokemon card thats mostly just mythical pull from a standard set. During this expansion, Pokemon with a Gold Star in your deck, making them just as powerful as they are gorgeous with unique colors and art exiting the frame.
Costs can vary massively, but spaces like Troll and Toad price the card at just under $4500. It simply combines all the great aspects of a standard card in the perfect combination, and the rarity of it in packs of this small expansion set make it one of the most valuable original Gen 3 cards, and one of the first major shiny cards to hit record prices before other shinies would catch up.
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How To Get Ex And Gx Pokemon Cards
Pokemon EX and GX cards are some of the most powerful cards in the game. It is no wonder that so many people want to get their hands on them. So, how do you get your hands on a Pokemon EX or GX card? Lets take a look.
There are a couple of ways. You can either pull them from a booster, or you can purchase them individually. Of course, EX and GX cards cannot be found in the same sets. So, if a set contains an EX card, it wont contain a GX card.
Lets go into a bit more depth because we know that things can be a little bit tricky if you are new to playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game.
Chansey #3 1st Edition Shadowless Base Set
- Release Date: 1999
- Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
- Pokemon card value at auction: $36,877
For many Pokemon card collectors, it doesnt get any better than the Base Set which made its North American debut in 1999. Not only does it feature some of the TCG series most iconic artwork, but there is also a ton of nostalgia players have connected to the release.
As a result, Pokemon cards from the release have seen the most explosion in value over the last decade. While not a heavy-hitter in the franchise itself, fans have been going wild for the adorable Chansey #3 Pokemon card. So much so that its surprised industry veterans when it started fetching jaw-dropping prices.
While hovering around $20k since 2019, the collectibles value has only continued to grow. According to PWCC, a 1st Edition Shadowless version sold for $36,877 in a November 2020 auction.
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Charizard Pokemon Cards: Buyers Guide & Investment Outlook
The investment outlook for Charizard cards is the same as its ever been.
Theyre worth a massive amount when looking at 1st edition versions, and they need to be mint or above.
If they fulfill those conditions, theres a good chance of profit in the future.
Investment Rating: Buy
Best Pokemon Charizard Card: 1999 Charizard Pokemon Base 1st Edition #4
Take PSA 10 copies of the 1999 base card. They were selling for roughly $9,000 in 2016, tripling in price over the next few years. For example, the most recent gem mint copy sold for $36,110.54, in December 2019. Thats a massive rise, which makes sense given the small supply.
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Looking Up How Much My Pokemon Cards Are Worth:
If you get too many results that include cards NOT like yours, use the checkboxes to pick the ones just like yours. Choosing a few comparable items by using the checkboxes gives you a much more accurate estimate of what your Pokemon card is worth.
What to do next:
Once youve gone through and searched for the value of your Pokemon cards using the mavin.io price guide, you have several different options:
If the Pokemon cards are valuable: You can either hold onto the cards, perhaps get them graded if theyre really valuable, and hopefully see them appreciate in value over time. Alternatively, you sell it to a local card shop without getting ripped off since you know its worth. Lastly, you can sell it yourself on eBay to get a competitive price. Read our guide to selling on eBay.
If the Pokemon cards are worthless: A card doesnt have to be worth money to be considered valuable. Each card has sentimental value to someone: where they got it, the deck it was a part of, that time you used it to battle so-and-so a lot of people tend to hang onto them because of the memories. If you want to get rid of your Pokemon cards, they could be worth some memories to a relative or a stranger. Put them on Craigslist, take them to a card shop, donate them, or pass them along to your kids or a relative. Theres still a lot of fun to be had in those dusty Pokemon cards youve been hanging onto!
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Pokmon Skyridge Hologram Charizard #146 $4150
The newest card to make the list, the 2003 Skyridge Hologram Charizard has seen a massive rise since May 2020. Back then a PSA 10 sold for under $3,000.00. By June 2020, they were well over $7,000.00. In November 2020, the new record sale was $28,100.00. Since then, they have come back down and the market has cooled off some with the last sale of $18,600.00. The PSA 9 topped out at $9,000.00 in December 2020 and has come back down to sales in the $5,000.00 range. 365 days ago, a PSA 9 was under $1,500.00, so its still up 3x since August 2020.
Recent Sales:
How Much Are Misprint Error Pokemon Cards Worth
When it comes to valuing Pokemon cards, rarity plays a big role.
If youre lucky enough to own a misprint card, most of the time, it will be worth more than the correctly printed card.
Collectors flock to own low population cards, and if there is a genuine print error, this can mean there are very few in existence, therefore inflating the value.
Misprint cards come in many forms. For example:
- Symbols missing or the wrong way
- Incorrect spellings
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The Pokemon On The Card
The final factor that drives price comes down to Pokemon popularity. Its no secret that Charizard is king! But other well-liked Pokemon such as Pikachu, Blastoise and Venusaur also command a premium.
As you can imagine, there are cases where a brand new Charizard from a modern set can be worth more than a 20+ year old 1st Edition Base Set PSA 10 card.
These four factors drive Pokemon card values in different ways, but if they all come together beautifully, its the perfect recipe for an extremely valuable Pokemon card.
Black Star Ishihara Signed Gx Promo Card
A card featuring the Pokémon Company’s President himself.
Sold for $247,230 in April 2021
The most recent card to make headlines for pure value, this card sold for nearly a quarter of a million dollars at auction on April 26th 2021. You can find the full details at our story here, but this card depicts Pokémon Company founder and current president Tsunekazu Ishihara, and was given to the company staff as a celebration of the man’s 60th birthday in 2017.
That makes the card rare, but this specific version is even rarer, as Ishihara actually signed this near-mint card to boost its price even further. The “2017 P.M. SM Black Star #TPCi01 Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed Pokémon GX Promo Card”, to use its full title, is a testament to the raw power apparently held by the Pokémon president. The ability “Red Chanchanko” is in reference to the red vest traditionally worn on 60th birthdays in Japan, and prevents the effect of any attack, ability or trainer card against Ishihara. Meanwhile, its GX move “60 Congratulations”, tells you to flip 60 coins, and take a present for each one. A truly legendary card.
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