You don't know joy until you've seen a nineties kid rip open a foil pack of Pokémon cards. Pokémon card values have skyrocketed in the past few years, and trading cards from the early days are now selling for outrageous prices. So, if you didn't gift your Pokémon cards to a kid down the street, it's time to dig them out of the basement. You never know what rare Pokémon cards you might find.
Most Valuable Pokémon Cards From the 1990s
| Most Valuable 1990s Pokémon Cards | Recent Sales Price |
| 1995 Topsun Holofoil Charizard | $37,600 |
| 1996 Japanese Poliwrath Base Set | $25,015 |
| 1996 Japanese Venusaur Base Set | $55,000 |
| 1998 Tamamushi University Magikarp Promo Card | $66,100 |
| 1998 Holo Kangaskhan Family Event Trophy Card | $150,100 |
| 1998 Backless Blastoise | $360,000 |
| 1999 Trainer Deck B Blastoise | $20,000 |
| 1999 First Edition Mewtwo | $20,000 |
| 1999 Chanesy Shadowless Base Set | $36,877 |
| 1999 Blastoise Shadowless Base Set | $45,100 |
| 1999 Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind Promo Card | $65,100 |
| 1999 No. 1 Trainer Super Secret Battle Card | $90,000 |
The Pokémon Trading Card Game was launched in Japan in 1996 and in the U.S. in 1999. These cards were a megahit among kids and young adults, and just like Charlie Bucket, some of them found their "golden tickets" in special edition cards, "shiny" cards, and novelty packs. It didn't matter if you picked them up because you liked the cute illustrations or because you had serious (although foolhardy) aspirations of becoming a PTCG champion. All that matters now is which Pokémon cards you managed to hold onto.
1995 Topsun Holofoil Charizard: $37,600
Anything that can tie the different Pokémon media together is a money-maker, and the promotional Topsun Holofoil card packs from 1995 did just that. They predate the official TCG release by a year and were made to fit inside gum packs, but serious card collectors know just how special they are.
The best of these is the Charizard whose illustration mirrors the infamous cover of Nintendo's Pokémon Red game from 1996. Featuring a crackled holographic background, this card recently sold for $37,600 on eBay.
1996 Japanese Poliwrath Base Set: $25,015
Poliwrath — a frog-like water Pokémon — was included in the original Japanese base set released in 1996. It doesn't feature any notable markings and is printed in Japanese. A pristine card sold at a PWCC auction for $25,015, making it one of the most valuable cards from this early set.
1996 Japanese Venusaur Base Set: $55,000
Japanese first edition base sets featured no stamping, so they're often referred to as No Rarity cards. They are particularly hard to find in good condition. One Venusaur base set card went up for sale in 2021, with the PSA noting that only five of these grade 10s are known to exist. Being signed by the original artist, Mitsuhiro Arita, makes this card even more special, leading to it selling for $55,000.
1998 Tamamushi University Magikarp Promo Card: $66,100
Most trainers prefer the orange goldfish-like Pokémon's giant dragon evolution, Gyarados, to its baby goldfish beginnings, Magikarp. But, this 1998 Magikarp card would trump any Gyarados in your collection, since it was only gifted to tournament participants in an Osaka competition.
To enter, players had to send in answers to a magazine-circulated Tamamushi University Hyper Test. Only a few of these cards were handed out, making any of them worth a pretty penny. In 2021, one of these practically perfect cards sold for $66,100 on eBay.
1998 Holo Kangaskhan Family Event Trophy Card: $150,100
An unusual Japanese TCG tournament was held in 1998 where parents and children partnered up to fight competitors. Challengers who hit a certain number of wins were given an extremely rare holographic variant Kangaskhan card. The card has never been mass-produced, making it super rare. It's so rare that only three have sold in recent decades, with only an estimated 46 to exist. One sold for $150,100.
1998 Backless Blastoise: $360,000
One of the rarest Pokémon trading cards, the test print Blastoise card made by the Wizards of the Coast in 1998, wasn't meant to get into anyone's hands. Its most distinctive feature (and design faux pas) is that it doesn't have a design on the back of the card — just a blank white canvas. Very few of these are known to exist, and one with an 8.5 grade sold in 2021 for a shocking amount — $360,000, to be exact.
One of the most expensive Pokémon cards ever is the 1998 Japanese Pikachu Illustrator Card that sold for $840,000 in 2022.
1999 Trainer Deck B Blastoise: $20,000
If you were glued to your TV watching Pokémon in the '90s, then either Ash, Misty, or Brock were probably your favorite Pokémon trainers. In honor of the American TCG release in 1999, a promo pack called "Misty's Deck" was given out to league members. The best Pokémon card in the deck (now called 'Deck B') was Blastoise. Nowadays, this base set non-holographic Blastoise is worth about a semester of college tuition, with one gem mint card selling in 2021 for $20,000.
1999 First Edition Mewtwo: $20,000
The name Mewtwo will bring tears to any Pokémon fan's eyes because of its pivotal role in the first Pokémon movie. A legendary Pokémon, Mewtwo is a super powerful psychic type and one of the best-known legends in Pokémon pop culture. First edition cards of this iconic 'mon can sell for a few hundred to a few thousand depending on their condition. According to the PSA, a gem mint card is worth about $20,000.
1999 Chansey Shadowless Base Set: $36,877
The American base set (which debuted in 1999) is highly collectible because of how iconic and lasting the Pokémon are from that original generation. So, any well-preserved card from this base set sells for a lot of money. Take this 1999 Shadowless Chansey that sold in 2020 for $36,877, for example.
1999 Blastoise Shadowless Base Set: $45,100
Blastoise is the beloved final evolution of the original starter Pokémon, Squirtle, and any base set card from the first American release is worth a lot. Add a gem mint 10 on top of that, and you've got a high-value collectible right there. In 2020, one of these Shadowless base set Blastoises went for sale in a PWCC auction and sold for a whopping $45,100.
1999 Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind Promo Card: $65,100
Before 2004 when the World Championships were codified, it was the wild, wild west of TCG competitions. Earlier versions were called Tropical Mega Battle, and the 1999 battle was held in Hawaii. Fifty players came together to compete, and only a few of them ended up with the Tropical Wind trophy card, making it particularly valuable (especially for Psyduck fans). One of these cards in a gem mint condition came to auction in 2020 and sold for $65,100.
1999 No. 1 Trainer Super Secret Battle Card: $90,000
As if Pokémon championships couldn't be more mystical, one 1999 Japanese finale was held at a secret location and competitors could only enter it with a No. 1 Trainer card. Only winners of regional events received these hallpasses. This "Super Secret Battle" is legendary in its own right, and collectors push and shove to get at one of these special cards. One gem mint 10 sold at an auction in 2020 for a whopping $90,000.
Top Selling Pokémon Trading Cards From the 2000s
| Most Valuable 2000s Pokémon Cards | Recent Sales Price |
|---|---|
| 2000 Neo Genesis Holo Lugia 1st Edition | $144,300 |
| 2002 Neo Summer Battle Road Tournament Number 2 Trainer Trophy Card | $34,100 |
| 2003 Charizard Crystal Holo Variant | $25,100 |
| 2004 "Gold Star" Holo Torchic | $25,400 |
| 2005 "Gold Star" Holo Rayquaza | $45,100 |
| 2005 "Gold Star" Holo Umbreon | $78,000 |
| 2005 Japanese Summer Battle Road Mew Victory Orb Trainer Card | $15,350 |
| 2006 "Gold Star" Holo Shiny Charizard | $25,405 |
| 2007 "Gold Star" Holo Espeon | $22,100 |
| 2010 Master Key Card | $26,900 |
| 2016 24K Gold Pikachu | $2,000 |
The American PTCG release in 1999 was a boon for its Japanese creators, and 2000s kids spent all their allowances on these trading cards. If you happened to jump on the Pokémon card game bandwagon back at the turn of the millennium, then you might have one or two of these ultra-valuable cards pressed between the pages of a Highlights magazine somewhere.
2000 Neo Genesis Holo Lugia 1st Edition: $144,300
Legendary Pokémon are legends for a reason. They're super hard to find and catch in the video games and just as difficult to find in a card pack. In particular, Lugia is one of the first and most iconic of these souped-up 'mons, and the 1st edition of their Neo Genesis cards were created with so many errors that they're difficult to grade. But, a highly prized mint condition copy sold in 2021 for a mind-blowing $144,300.
2002 Neo Summer Battle Road Tournament Number 2 Trainer Trophy Card: $34,100
The PTCG operates similarly to chess where various levels of tournaments culminate in world championship competitions, and competitors receive special trophy cards. Recently, a 2002 Number 2 Trainer Card from one of these battles went to auction and sold for $34,100. Of the limited quantities, this second-place card had the winner's name written on it — making it all the more unique and valuable.
2003 Charizard Crystal Holo Variant: $25,100
Charizard - the third evolution of the starter Pokémon, Charmander, is a beloved character from the original line. And Charizard cards always bring interest at auctions. One 2003 card featured a Crystal Holo design variant with a rather low production value and a gem mint 10 status. It sold in 2020 for $25,100 at a PWCC auction.
2004 "Gold Star" Holo Torchic: $25,400
During the mid-2000s, interest in the PTCG started to wane, prompting a new line of cards (called Gold Star) to enter the market in an attempt to drum up interest. These cards were made in a limited number and specialty marked with literal gold stars. Due to this specialty status, they can be rather valuable. One Torchic card from 2001 sold at auction for $25,400 in 2020.
2005 "Gold Star" Holo Rayquaza: $45,100
A part of the Ex Deoxys expansion pack, this Rayquaza card is highly valued because of its gold star status, holographic image, and the fact that it's one of the legendary Pokémon from the Hoenn region. Legendaries are just as popular with enthusiasts as shiny Pokémon are, as this gem mint 10 card's $45,100 payout at a 2020 auction attests.
2005 "Gold Star" Holo Umbreon: $78,00
Eevee fans are another breed of Pokémon fans, and they obsessively collect any merchandise relating to Eevee and its various evolutions. To grab the gold star holographic version of the dark type evolution, Umbreon, players had to accumulate 70,000 XP points (basically, people had to win a lot at actual matches). In 2021, the first ever of these cards came to auction with a BGS grade of 9.5. It sold for a shocking $78,000.
2005 Japanese Summer Battle Road Mew Victory Orb Trainer Card: $15,350
The Battle Road Summer Tournament commenced in 2005 across nine Japanese cities, and only the top three competitors of each age group would win a Victory Orb card. This card was particularly spectacular because it featured the elusive legendary Pokémon, Mew. Because so few people got one of these cards, they're valuable to collectors. One gem mint card sold in 2020 for $15,350.
2006 "Gold Star" Holo Shiny Charizard: $25,405
Finding that limited gold star on a Pokémon card makes it worthwhile, but discovering a shiny Pokémon is like hitting a jackpot on the slot machine. One such gold star shiny holographic Charizard comes from a 2006 series. With a gem mint 10 condition, it sold at a 2021 auction for $25,405.
2007 "Gold Star" Holo Espeon: $22,100
The gold star series continues to be one of the rarest and most valuable series the Pokémon TCG ever released. Among the hardest to find of these are the multiple "Eeveelutions", and one such difficult card to find (of the psychic type, Espeon) sold in 2021 for an impressive $22,100.
Related: Check Your Binders for These Extremely Valuable Yu-Gi-Oh Cards
2010 Master Key Card: $26,900
The aforementioned World Championships are a serious competition featuring top talent from around the world. In 2010, the championships were held in Hawaii, and 36 competitors were given a Master Key card. This highly limited run, coupled with a PSA 9 grading (meaning it's in almost perfect condition), pushed one of these cards up to a $26,900 sale in a 2020 auction.
2016 24K Gold Pikachu: $2,000
Japan rang in the PTCG's 20th anniversary in luxurious style with their 24k solid gold Pikachu card. Made in 2016 by the Japanese jeweler Ginza Tanaka, the limited number of cards were sold by a lottery system. The sale price at the time was a little over $2,000. This card's weight in gold alone makes it a valuable card, but adding a commemorative release and limited production numbers makes it a must-have.
Most Valuable Charizard Cards
If you're a Pokémon TCG fan, you've undoubtedly heard about the infamous Shiny Charizard card. While this rare card has its place, there are many other more valuable Charizard cards to set your sights on.
These are some of the most valuable Charizard cards recently sold at auction:
- Charizard #4 First Edition Shadowless Card (1999): $336,000
- Charizard #006 Japanese Base Set Card (1996): $300,000
- Charizard #4 First Edition Non-Shadowless Card (1999): $90,100
- Charizard #006 25th Anniversary Japanese Card (2021): $49,250
- Charizard Japanese Beta Playtest Card (1996): $42,500
- Charizard Japanese Topsun Card (1995): $31,200
Look for These Valuable Characteristics
If you're flipping through cards on the fly, you don't have the time or tools to give them a serious once-over. So, we've got some great tips for finding valuable Pokémon cards to help you quickly sort through yours.
- Check for the Gold Star. Gold Star cards come with an off-kilter star perched beside the Pokémon's name. Since they all come from a limited run, they're worth a lot of money.
- Look for a signature. If you find a card with a signature at a good price, drop the money and run. Most often, cards were signed by the artist or a champion competitor, and since signatures always add to the price tag, it's worth doing a little research after you've secured it for yourself.
- Check for rare and super rare symbols. Pokémon card rarity is illustrated with a symbol in the bottom right corner. The symbol you should look for is a black star, as it means it's considered a rare card. Really valuable rare cards come with out-of-range numbers (such as 201/200) or extra letters in front of the symbol. While these letters change depending on the deck, it's a safe bet to collect any black-starred cards you find.
Tips for Selling Pokémon Cards Every Trainer Should Know
Whether you've been a Pokémon trainer in everything but name since you were a kid or you just recently got a taste of Pokémon fever, you can become a bona fide Pokémon card trader. Before you start listing every card in your card binder online, there are a few things you need to know to get the most for your collection.
- Get your cards graded. If you think you have one of these rare holographic, gold star, or base set cards, then the first step to take before even thinking about selling them is getting the cards professionally graded. PSA is the biggest professional grading company in the market, and they'll assess your cards for a fee. But, no serious collector is going to buy any cards that haven't been graded, so it's an investment you must make.
- Get comfortable with using eBay. eBay is a super simple online independent seller platform that's become synonymous with niche and kitschy collectibles like Pokémon cards. Outside of the very few TCG auction lots sold through traditional auction houses, many big-ticket card sales are brokered through eBay.
- Hit while the market's hot. Right now, Pokémon cards and other vintage memorabilia have seen a massive uptick in demand over the past few years, but that demand will start to plateau, and the cards won't be worth the same amounts that they are right now. So, you've got to make a deal while your product is hot.
Gotta Collect 'Em All
Holding a stack of Pokémon trading cards in your hands will transport you back to being 10 years old again and fighting over the newest region's Pokémon packs. For some, that nostalgia has never faded, and they're willing to fork over some cold, hard cash for the missing cards in their collectors' decks. It's time to capitalize on all those kids trying to catch 'em all by finding the right buyers for the special cards in your childhood deck.
