If you are a Pokemon enthusiast, you might have heard about the collectible obsession with Pokemon cards. Since Pokemon is one of the biggest franchises with the highest-grossing media franchise, people invested their money to obtain rare Pokémon cards. Even though it came out in the late 1990s, it remains a pop culture fixture.
Since the pandemic hit in 2020, Pokémon cards have become a high-demand collectible item and a great investment for some people. According to a report by eBay, the value of the Pokémon Trading Card Game marketplace has increased by over 500% from 2019 to 2020. You might be surprised how much some of these cards are worth, especially the older version. Even though it’s impossible to get a hold of the older version, you can still profit by getting your hands on rare Pokémon cards and holding them until they are valuable to sell.
What makes a Pokemon card valuable?
There are a few things that can make a Pokemon card valuable. If you are a Pokémon investor or collector, you know that certain symbols on a card show its rarity.
Pokémon rarity stamps:
Circle: Common
Diamond: Uncommon
Star: rare
Star H or 3 stars: extra rare
Symbols are not the only factor that characterizes the rarity of a card. Your card is considered rare and valuable if you have the earlier edition, holo or reverse holo, collector number, or unique identifiers.
Below are the rare Pokémon cards that are difficult to obtain and can cost up to thousands of dollars.
Top 6 Rare Pokemon cards
Pikachu Illustrator
Release: 1998
Card Selling Price: $5.275 million (card sold in July 2021)
The Pikachu Illustrator card is considered one of the most expensive and valuable Pokemon cards. It was awarded to only 39 people in 1997 who participated in a CoroCoro Comic illustration contest. This card is a scarce Pokémon card that is highly sought after since it is worth an estimated $5 million in raw monetary value. Even more surprising is that Logan Paul is one of the collectors, paying $6 million for it.
Charizard 1st Edition Holo
Release: 1999
Card Selling Price: $420,000 (March 2022)
One of the most iconic and fan-favorite fire pokemon is Charizard, and the Charizard 1st edition holo is a remarkable card to own. This card is highly prized, as it is scarce and features stunning artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one of these cards, you’ll have a valuable and impressive addition to your collection! The card was sold for $420,000 at a recent auction.
Pokemon Blastoise
Release: 1998
Card Selling Price: $350,000 (January 2021)
Only two Blastoise cards were created by the Wizards of the Coast, which shows the rarity of this one-of-a-kind card. While there are only two, only one has been seen publicly. This might be the only one that is left!
Black Star Ishihara Signed GX Promo Card
Release: 2017
Card Selling Price: $247,230 (April 2021)
Sold for almost a quarter of a million dollars, this is the most recent and true legendary card. The illustration depicts Pokemon Company founder and current president Tsunekazu Ishihara, and the card was a gift to the company staff to celebrate the president 60th birthday. What makes it rarer is that the president signed the card himself, increasing its value.
Kangaskhan-Holo
Release: 1998
Card Selling Price: $150,100 (October 2020)
Only three of these copies have ever been sold in the last two decades, making it extremely scarce. It was a card given to participants in the Japanese parent/child tournament in 1998.
According to PWCC, it is revealed that 46 copies have ever been graded, but only three have been publicly sold. This card is the third rarest Pokemon card in the world, which is a worthy display in a museum.
Neo Genesis First Edition Holo Lugia
Release: 2000
Card Selling Price: $144,300 (July 2021)
Lugia is a fan-favorite Pokémon, and this card was released as part of the Neo Genesis set, featuring the Legendary Pokémon Lugia in all its glory. This card is truly a work of art, and it’s no surprise it is a sought-out card. The image of Lugia is stunning, and the holographic effect makes it even more eye-catching. Any fan of Pokémon would be proud to add this card to their collection.
Let’s Catch ‘Em all
These rare Pokémon cards made a welcome resurgence of nostalgic memories. Despite being expensive, these old cards provide a pinch of economic relief. If you want to start collecting or investing in Pokémon cards, you need to understand the value and rarity of a card.
More Articles from the Wealth of Geeks Network
Do You Need to Set Up a Roth IRA?
How to Start a Vending Machine Business and Make Money on Autopilot
The article was produced by The Money Dreamer and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
