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Pokemon Cards That Are Worth Something

Pokmon Tcg: Pros & Cons Of Getting Your Pokmon Cards Graded

It’s $500! Are Premium Pokemon Cards Worth It?

The Pokémon Trading Card Game has seen a major explosion in value in 2022. Here are the pros and cons of getting TCG Pokémon cards graded.

With the skyrocketing prices of Pokémon Trading Card Game collectibles in 2022, many fans may be wondering whether it’s worth getting their Pokémon cards graded by a professional grading company. The TCG originally launched worldwide in 1999, with the release of the Base Set expansion which was themed around the Generation 1 Pokémon Red and Blue RPGs. Despite releasing decades ago, the Nintendo tabletop game has seen a major revival in popularity which has resulted in many cards now being worth thousands of dollars. Because of the TCG‘s massive rise in value, many collectors are now contemplating whether it’s worth getting their childhood collection of Pokémon cards graded.

When the TCG originally launched in the 1990s, no one could have predicted that some Pokémon cards would be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars someday. In 2022, many classic TCG collectibles have continued to fetch incredible prices, such as the Base Set Charizard card which has now sold at auction for as high as $420,000. Pokémon card prices rose so high, that even celebrities began investing in them. In April, Logan Paul’s world record Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card actually broke a Guinness record after the YouTuber paid a staggering 5.2 million dollars for the rare promo item.

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Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed Gx Promo Card: $247230

These cards were given to employees at The Pokemon Company to celebrate its founder and president Tsunekazu Ishihara’s 60th Birthday.

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We don’t know exactly how many of these cards were produced, but one specific copy of it fetches a much higher price than the others. In April 2021, Goldin Auctions sold a copy of it that had been signed by Tsunekazu Ishihara himself for an eye-watering $247,230. The wildest thing? It wasn’t even PSA 10-graded, and managed to sell for that much with just a nine rating.

Pokmon Japanese Base Set No Rarity Symbol Holo Venusaur

A very rare Pokémon card made ever more valuable by its artists autograph

Sold for $55,000 in November 2021


Image: PWCC

Many of the rarest Pokémon cards date from the trading card games early days, with first edition cards released in the 1990s ranking as among the most valuable Pokémon cards today.

While the first edition stamp on cards is highly sought-after in the English edition of the Pokémon card game, the rarest Japanese Pokémon cards are instead identified by their lack of a stamp. Specifically, a missing black star in the bottom-right of a Japanese-language card is whats known as No Rarity – meaning that the card is missing the common symbol used to signify a Pokémon cards rarity.

No Rarity Pokémon cards are among the rarest Pokémon cards in existence, and few come rarer than the Venusaur Pokémon card from the games first print run in 1996. Just five copies of the Bulbasaur evolution – famous for appearing on the original video game Pokémon Green – have been graded at a perfect Gem-Mint 10 by PSA, making a flawless copy of the card extremely rare.

While a No Rarity Venusaur card commands a high price by itself, a copy sold in November 2021 set a new record for the rare Pokémon card by fetching $55,000 at auction. Helping the record sum was the signature of the cards illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita – the legendary artist behind many Pokémon cards from the last 20-plus years – on the cards case, making the already rare Pokémon card truly one-of-a-kind.


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Pricing Or Selling Your Collection

  • 1Look up card prices using online card-selling websites. There are thousands of unique Pokémon trading cards, and prices change over time as people sell, buy, and speculate. Recently printed cards may drop in price once they are no longer legal in tournaments. Because of these factors, looking up a card actually for sale is more likely to give you an accurate number than a price guide, which may not be up to date.
  • Try a Pokémon card-selling site or eBay, or search online for + “selling”. Remember to include any special features, using the terms described in the identification section.
  • Most online listings show how much a company is selling cards for. Look for a “buylist” to see how much the company will pay to buy your cards. If selling to another player, the price you’ll get will typically fall between these two numbers.
  • 2Ask Pokémon players or collectors. It’s often difficult to find a price online, especially for extra-rare cards that do not trade hands often. Search for a Pokémon trading card game forum online, and post a picture or description of your card for advice. You could also look for a hobby or gaming store in your area.
  • Be wary of scams. Get a second opinion on your cards’ value before selling them to a stranger.
  • How To Tell How Much Your Pokmon Cards Are Worth

    Are these Pokemon cards worth anything? : whatsthisworth

    Now that youve determined you have a rare Pokémon card, you should check if its still in reasonably good shape. Collectors are unlikely to spend their hard-earned money on Pokémon cards that look old or have tears.

    Some online card-selling sites feature databases that list card prices and other relevant information. Some even have automated systems to find the exact card youre looking for.

    When in doubt, search for specialized Pokémon trading forums. Thats the fastest way to ask your fellow sellers and collectors how much a card is worth.

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    Skyridge Holographic Crystal Charizard

    Besides having arguably the best artwork of any Charizard card, 2003s Skyridge Holo Crystal Charizard is notable for being a part of the last set produced by Wizards of the Coast when interest in the game started to wane. Due to the lessened interest in the game at the time, fewer sets were produced, making this card even rarer.

    As of writing, there are just 211 mint condition copies of this card graded by PSA. The value of this card has skyrocketed with the recent surge in interest around the hobby .

    To date, the highest sale of this card was for $28,100 in November 2020.

    Is there a chans-ey you have this card in a shoebox somewhere?

    World Championships Sprint Battle Road 2002 No 1 Trainer Promo: $31000

    No. 1 Trainer promo cards are almost always valuable, thanks to them only being printed in limited quantities and being awarded to finalists in World Championships. What makes the Battle Road Spring 2002 promo special, though, is that every card is unique.


    Each one has the name of its owner, and the region they were the champion of, printed in the card’s text. As there were seven regions for the tournament, it can be assumed that there were at least seven produced.

    It’s so rare that PSA doesn’t have an appraised value for it, however it has sold at auction in the past for $31,000.

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    Why Are Pokmon Cards So Famous

    If you grew up in the 1990s, you were a big fan of Pokémon. The collectible card game was all the rage, and kids would trade and battle their cards with friends. While the game has evolved over the years, it remains popular. Here are a few reasons why Pokémon cards are still so famous, and many wonder what are pokemon cards worth:

    • The characters are iconic and timeless. Who can forget Ash Ketchum and his trusty Pikachu? The characters from the Pokémon universe have been around for over two decades and remain just as popular today as they were when the franchise first started. Kids enjoy collecting cards featuring their favorite characters, and there is a huge variety of cards to collect.
    • The Pokémon franchise is extremely popular, with video games, movies, and TV shows all enjoyed by people of all ages.
    • Additionally, the trading card game is a really fun and strategic game that players of all experience levels can enjoy.
    • Finally, the cards are just really well-made and visually appealing, making them a popular choice for collectors.

    Most Expensive Pokemon Cards In 2022

    PSA Took 365 Days To Grade My Pokemon Cards | Was It Worth It?

    It should be noted that top lists are almost always up for debate. A cards value can be determined by the highest its ever sold at auction, or what it sells for on average.


    A Pokemon cards value can also wildly fluctuate with the market and are largely dependent on the items grading and condition. Our list is based on what the collectible has sold for in the latest auctions, and its position will be updated if another card outsells it and makes a new record.

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    Pokmon Blastoise #009/165r Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram

    A two-of-a-kind card that suddenly became one of the most valuable Pokémon cards of all time

    Sold for $360,000 in January 2021

    One of only two such Pokémon cards in existence – making it extremely rare – this Blastoise suddenly became one of the most valuable Pokémon cards of all time after it sold at auction in January 2021 for a whopping $360,000 .


    The ultra-rare Pokémon card was created in 1998 as a presentation piece by Magic: The Gathering maker Wizards of the Coast to convince Nintendo of Japan executives to allow it to handle the TCGs English-language release. The game would eventually make its international debut one year later in 1999.

    While two Blastoise Presentation cards were produced, this is the only one that has been seen publicly. Even more impressively, it has been graded at a NM/Mint+ 8.5 level by certification website CGC, meaning that the 20-plus-year-old card is in near-perfect condition. The location and state of the other Presentation card remains unknown – meaning that this may well be the only such card of its type left.

    Cons Of Graded Pokmon Cards

    Despite all the positives to graded Pokémon TCG cards, there are also some downsides. The cost of card grading is pretty high and can result in situations where players actually lose money. At PSA, it cost around $18 to $30 to get a single card rated by the company. Rare cards from modern sets such as the Pokémon Brilliant Stars TCG expansion may end up being worth less than the grading fees depending on the score it gets. For instance, a fan that submits their card for grading may lose all potential value if the card doesn’t come back a perfect grade of 10. There are many factors that can play into a Pokémon card not getting the score it needed to have value as well, such as scratches, whitening on corners, or off-center printing.

    Because of the TCG‘s recent resurgence in popularity, it’s also resulted in grading companies like PSA and CGC becoming slammed with people trying to send their cards in to be rated. As a result, wait times are extremely long. According to PSA, a single Pokémon card can now take up to 150 days to get graded and sent back. Collectors who want to speed the process up will have to shell out at least $100 in order to get their cards back within thirty days. So not only will it take up to half a year for most fans to get their TCG items graded, but their cards might end up not being worth anything if they end up receiving lower than expected scores.

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    Japanese Promo Card Holo Pikachu Illustrator

    Card sale date: April 2022

    Card selling price: $6 million

    What makes it special: As the most popular and well-known Pokémon character, its no surprise that Pikachu tops the list of most valuable Pokémon cards. Only 39 Pikachu Illustrator cards were given out to the winners of three art competitions conducted by CoroCoro Comic magazine.

    Competitors created their own Pokémon art, and winners received this Pikachu card, showing the character drawing two other Pokémon Charmander and Mew. This artwork was created by Atsuko Nishida, who designed Pikachu for the Game Boy Advance.


    Specifics of the particular sale: The PSA rated this card, which was sold to Logan Paul in a private auction, as GEM Mint 10.

    Pokmon Japanese Promo Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind

    Found my old Pokemon cards, are they worth anything?

    An ultra-rare promo card – one of only a dozen ever made

    Sold for $65,100 in October 2020

    Only 12 Tropical Wind cards were produced as promo cards for the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle, a precursor to the Pokémon World Championships, making it one of the most valuable Pokémon sets around.

    The Tropical Mega Battle saw 50 players from around the globe take part in a tournament for the trading card game in Honolulu, Hawaii. The only way to participate was to win a battle in your local region and earn an invite, making it an exclusive event for the best Pokémon trainers in the world – and the cards offered as prizes some of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence.

    This particular Tropical Mega Battle promo card, the 1999 Japanese-language copy of Tropical Wind, has sold at auction for as much as $65,100 in PSA Gem Mint 10 condition, with the most recent record-breaking sale taking place in October 2020. PSA estimates its value to be as high as $148,482, making the ultra-rare card a contender for one of the most expensive Pokémon cards ever made.

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    Pokmon Card Storage Box

    Once youve put your Pokémon cards in their sleeves, youll need to put them in a box for easy safekeeping. One option is clear plastic boxes, which provide great protection and make it easy to see what kind of card you have inside. Another option is the classic 9-pocket page for three ring binders.

    Looking for something a little less fancy? There are a wide variety of other options available on online storefronts, and theres always cardboard boxes. Whichever Pokémon card storage box you decide on, make sure that it is elevatedeither on a pallet or on a shelfto guard against spills or other types of moisture on the ground.

    Rayquaza Gold Star Holo Ex Deoxys

    • Release Date: 2005
    • Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
    • Pokemon card value at auction: $45,100

    An early favorite of Ruby & Sapphire, Rayquaza has seen an uptick in popularity over the last decade. So it makes sense then that its cards would also start to climb up in value over time. In 2005, The Pokemon Company released the Ex Deoxys TCG expansion featuring the Flying / Dragon-type.

    As a gimmick to get Pokemon card collectors interested in the set, the Japanese company introduced Gold Star Pokemon cards into the hobby. As mentioned earlier, the incredibly rare Pokemon cards featured a special symbol next to the name of the mon. Of course, the king of these marked collectibles is the Hoenn Legendary itself.

    In December 2020, a perfectly graded Gold Star Rayquaza sold at auction for $45,100. Given the Legendarys continued popularity in the franchise, and just how little of the gold Pokemon cards were actually produced, we expect this item to increase in value as time goes on.

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    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.

    Holo Kanghaskan Parent/child Promo

    Are Your Common Pokemon Cards Worth Money?

    As you’ll see with some of the more prestigious cards on this list, the Kanghaskan Parent/Child promo card was released in Japan only. As if that didn’t make it difficult enough for those of us that live in the states, this card was only released in 1998. To make matters even worse, it was only given at the Parent/Child Mega Battle Tournament to parent and child teams who a won a specified number of matches. As such, you will probably never see a card like this in real life, and if you have, odds are that it isn’t yours. In the bottom right corner where the set symbol usually goes, this card bears the original Pocket Monsters logo, signifying just how rare this card actually is. Because of its rather beautiful design, this card has been considered by many collectors to be the “Holy Grail” of Pokemon cards. This card is so rare that you’ll have to do quite a bit of digging before you actually find one for sale. If you do, you’re most likely looking at the $4,000 price range. If you’ve got the extra cash lying around, I guess it’s not a bad purchase?

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    First Edition Shadowless Holographic Charizard

    Ranking the rarest Pokémon cards without covering shiny Charizard is harder than choosing your starter Pokémon. Collectors have always coveted rare Charizard cards, but this one is the undisputed king!

    Like many of the most valuable Pokémon cards, this 1st edition Charizard is cherished for being the victim of an early printing error that resulted in the absence of a drop shadow on the character art . As such, this card is incredibly hard to find in mint condition .

    In recent years, this hot property has become the face of Pokémon card collecting, with high-profile sales to Logan Paul and Logic in 2020. Two other copies of the card were sold the same year for $350,100 and $369,000.

    Another shiny Charizard was recently sold for an eye-watering $420,000 in March 2022, making it the third most expensive Pokémon card ever sold at auction.

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