10 Most expensive Pokémon cards in the world

10 Most expensive Pokemon cards in the world

In February 1996, Nintendo’s Pokémon, electronic game series debuted in Japan. The game made its debut as Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green. The franchise later gained popularity in the United States and across the globe. This series was introduced to the United States in 1998. It was initially produced for the handheld consoles of the company’s Game Boy line. These were introduced as two titles known as Blue and Red to fans.

Second to Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros, Pokémon’s popularity caused it to become one of the most popular video game franchises in the world. In these games, players take up the role of Pokémon trainers. They are tasked with acquiring cartoon monsters and making them better for them to battle other Pokémon.

Pokémon did not lack controversy despite having a little violence and a friendly interface. Two parents of two nine-year-old boys sued Nintendo in 1999. The parents argued that the children developed gambling problems as a result of the Pokémon card game. The parents also compared the trading-card fascination to an illegal lottery.

The undeniable face of Pokémon is a yellow mouse-like creature known as Pikachu. Pikachu helped make the Pokémon series a global sensation. Pokémon’s popularity led to the creation of movies, cartoon series, sequels, a toy line, books, a clothing line, and spin-offs. Most of all, it inspired a popular trading-card game.

There was a renewed and increased surge in the game and cards in 2021. This caused the value of the cards to increase rapidly reaching more than thousands of dollars in value. Initially, the cards were very lowly priced but they have since attained the highest sum for cards of any kind.

The high value of Pokémon cards was realized during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most prized were the rare promo cards or the 1999 first edition cards. During the pandemic, first-generation Pokémon collectors were in their late 20s to mid-30s. One of the people who contributed significantly to the Pokémon hype was Logan Paul, an influencer-turned-boxer.

Below are the ten most expensive Pokémon cards in the world.

1. Pikachu Cards were designed by Atsuko Nishida

Promotional artwork of Pikachu for Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green. Photo by Game Freak/Wikimedia Commons

As part of a prize for the Pokemon Illustration Contest in 1998, only 39 cards were made. The cards were released in Japan. Atsuko Nishida was one of the Pikachu designers.

24 Illustrator Pikachu cards were graded by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and there was only one 10. The card was purchased by Logan Paul in Dubai. Sold for USD 5,275,000, Paul purchased the card and wore it around his neck during the 2022 Wrestlemania.

2. Sealed Case of First Edition Pokémon Box did not contain Pokémon only

Logan Alexander Paul, boxer and influencer. Photo by Erik Drost/Wikimedia Commons

Logan Paul purchased a first edition case of Pokémon boxes for USD 3.5 million. Skeptics thought it may have been fake until the BCEE verifying sealed boxes verified the box. The BCEE stated that the outside of the whole box was original.

Paul did not feel right about the sealed box and opted to open it. This would have devalued the box by hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the presence of the BCEE executives, Paul opened the box and discovered smaller boxes inside.

The smaller boxes contained G.I. Joes valued at USD 10, not Pokémons as indicated earlier. Paul got back the money he spent on the purchase but the person who sold it to him is still looking for his.

3. Illustrator Pikachu, PSA 9 Sold at an auction for USD 840,000

New headquarters of Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas in June 2020. Photo by CrawfordM2424/Wikimedia Commons

In June 2022, an Illustrator Pikachu 9 came up for sale. Even though there was a downturn in cards and with just one 10, this 9 stood out. It sold at Heritage Auctions for USD 840,000.

4. Illustrator Pikachu, PSA 7 Sold at a slightly lower than the original bid Price

In February 2022, the PSA 7 initially was old at the Goldin Auctions for USD 900,000. This was indicated as the most expensive public sale then.

The original bidder backed out and the PSA 7 and the remaining bidders were presented with it. Still considered an extraordinary number, one of the bidders purchased it at a discounted price of USD 720,000.

5. Shadowless Sealed First Edition Booster Box Sold for USD 432,000

A collection of 1995 pokemon cards. Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

The Shadowless Charizard was stated to be the key card. With only a few of them available, a couple of bidders are enough and a sale is made. This particular card was sold at PWCC in November 2021 for USD 432,000.

6. The First Edition Shadowless Holo Charizard, Amongst those Selected as a PSA 10

A pokemon card. Photo by Steven Cordes on Unsplash

The March 2022 sale set a record for the highest price paid for a first edition base card. 3,626 shadowless holo Charizards were graded; from these, only 121 were graded as 10.

Amongst the initial Pokemon cards, the Charizard is the most sought-after. This is because it has the highest attack of power. It sold for USD 420,000.

7. Raw Illustrator Pikachu Doubled in Price After Steve Aoki Purchased it

Steve Aoki playing a set at the HiFi Nightclub in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Photo by Eriegz/Wikimedia Commons

DJ Steve Aoki spent USD 420,000 in February 2021 for an ungraded Illustrator Pikachu. Aoki later graded it and Illustrator Pikachu received a 9. Fifteen months after the auction, this Pikachu is said to have at least doubled in value.

8. The First Edition Base Set Sealed Booster Box, Sold for USD 384,000

Released in January of 1999, these boxes included 102 cards in each set. With 396 cards in the box, they sold for USD 384,000.

9. Illustrator Pikachu, PSA 7 Sold at USD 375,000

A card from the Pokémon Trading Card Game known as ‘Brock’s Onix’ is Illustrated by Ken Sugimori. Photo by Wikimedia Commons

The PSA 7 Illustrator Pikachu, was sold in February 2021 for less than half the price at PWCC. A year later at Goldin the card sold for twice as much. The hype and Pokémon talk is said to have contributed to the increase in price.  

10. Only Two Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram Cards were Produced

Blastoise pokemon card. Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

In January 2021, Heritage sold one of the two copies of this Pokémon ever produced. Produced in mid-1998 by ‘Wizards of the Coast’, this Pokémon sold for USD 360,000.

Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram, CGC 8.5 was used as a presentation piece. It was used to get approval for Nintendo’s Pokemon cards to be printed in English.