How much is a original pikachu worth

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How much is a original pikachu worth

You should be well aware of how Pokémon Go absolutely took the world by storm for a good while. And considering that the mobile game added roughly $11 billion USD to Nintendo's market value, you'd think that your original Pokémon cards might be worth a little something right now.

Accordingly, Twizzle put together a helpful infographic highlighting how much certain cards are worth.

Expectantly, first edition cards (1999-2000) are worth the most, as some of the rarer ones may even equate to as much as you make in a year, if not more. For example, if you're the proud owner of a Pikachu Illustrator Card — well — that one is currently worth a cool $100,000 USD.

On the other hand, however, cards such as the First Edition Shadowless Lightning Energy will only go for $1 USD right now.

To see how much your old school Pokémon cards are worth, check out the coinciding infographic below, courtesy of Twizzle.

Also, press play below for a quick tutorial on Pokémon Go if you're not already on that tip.

How much is a original pikachu worth

What do Shadowless Charizard, Master’s Key and Prerelease Raichu cards have in common? They’re some of the most rare and expensive Pokémon cards in existence right now. While the value of cards have been dropping recently, the TCG isn't going away, the team behind the game recently launched a Pokémon Go set, and now they are apparently even creating a reality TV show.

Within this list we are going to focus on the most valuable Pokémon cards. Cards are typically found in this elite category because very few of them were released or they were part of special events and promotions. You may be surprised to see which cards have made this list, so without further ado let’s look at the top 15 right now.

Rare and valuable Pokémon cards

A rare card made of solid gold

Sold for 216,000 yen ($2,081) in October 2016

How much is a original pikachu worth
The card is a reprint of the game's original Pikachu, albeit one made out of solid 24-karat gold. Image: Nintendo/Creatures Inc./Game Freak

While many of the rarest Pokémon cards are cards released during the first years of the game, this card is an exception in that it appeared for the first time only a few years ago in 2016 to celebrate the Pokémon TCG’s 20th anniversary.

What makes the 20th Anniversary Pikachu card extra special is the fact it’s made out of solid gold. 11 grammes of 24-karat gold, in fact. Japanese jewellery maker Ginza Tanaka produced a limited number of solid gold cards based on the original Japanese Pikachu card - affectionately nicknamed ‘Fat Pikachu’ due to the electric mouse’s distinctive chubby cheeks in its original design.

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The only way to get a copy of the golden Pikachu was to enter a lottery held in 2016. If you won, you were given the chance to buy a copy of the limited-edition card for 216,000 yen - or around $2,081/£1,700. It came in a special frame and box marking the anniversary, which you’d hope might keep it safe given the price tag and rarity.

Although the card recreates the original Pikachu card - including the Pocket Monsters Card Game logo on the back and its Japanese text on the front - it’s actually not legal for use in tournaments. You know, because it’s made of gold. We probably wouldn’t recommend trading it in the schoolyard either, unless your friend has a Rolls-Royce to give you in return.

A card so rare it may just be rumour

Reportedly sold for $10,500 in April 2009

How much is a original pikachu worth
Fact or fiction? Prerelease Raichu may be the rarest Pokémon card of all time - if it's real, that is.

Perhaps the most controversial Pokémon card of all time, Prerelease Raichu may also be the rarest Pokémon card ever made - in fact, it’s so rare that finding out exact details is tricky.

Prerelease Raichu was long rumoured to be a card printed by error in the run-up to the English-language release of the Pokémon TCG’s second expansion, Jungle, in 1999. So the story goes, a very small number - said to approximately 100 - of Raichu cards from the game’s Base Set were accidentally reprinted with the word “Prerelease” stamped in the bottom-right of the card artwork. The game’s English manufacturer, Wizards of the Coast, reportedly destroyed all but a fraction of the copies, leaving 10 or fewer in the wild. The few remaining copies are believed to have been given to Wizards of the Coast staff.

For years, Prerelease Raichu was only rumoured to exist, until a copy believed to be genuine surfaced from a former Wizards of the Coast employee in 2006. In 2009, the first and seemingly only recorded sale of a Prerelease Raichu was reported by fan site PokeGym, apparently changing hands for $10,500. However, given the completion date of April 1st, whether the sale was real or an elaborate April Fool’s prank remains dubious.

Whether Prerelease Raichu actually exists remains in contention - no copies of the card have even been professionally certified or sold at auction, despite a number of apparent fakes popping up over the years. If a legitimate copy of the card were to surface, it may well set a new record for the most valuable and rarest Pokémon card of all time. Until then, it will remain a true Holy Grail.

A more recent card - but no less rare

Sold for $21,000 in November 2019

How much is a original pikachu worth
Master's Key is one of the rare Pokémon cards that doesn't date back to the TCG's early days. Image: PWCC

Master’s Key is another rare Pokémon card awarded to participants in a Pokémon TCG tournament. However, unlike No. 1 Trainer and its ilk, this card is a little more recent, being given to competitors in the 2010 Pokémon World Championships held in Hawaii.

Both those participating in the trading card game tournament and its video game counterpart received a copy of Master’s Key - the cards were identical, but came presented in a different trophy case frame depending on the category.

Only 36 copies of the card are estimated to exist - equal to the number of participants in all age divisions of the world championships.

A copy of the Master’s Key card sold at auction in November 2019 for more than $21,000, highlighting how valuable the rare prize card is.

A pair of Gold Star Pokémon cards from one of the most valuable Pokémon sets of all time

Sold for $22,000 in February 2021

How much is a original pikachu worth
The Gold Star Pokémon cards are one of the most valuable Pokémon sets ever produced, with Espeon and Umbreon two of the rarest cards in the set.

Gold Star Pokémon cards are among the most valuable sets of Pokémon cards in existence and command an incredibly high value as a result. The cards are named after the gold star that appears next to the Pokémon’s name at the top of the card, which signifies that the card features alternative-colour artwork different from the common version. Only 27 Gold Star cards were released from 2004 to 2007, making them some of the rarest Pokémon cards available.

While all of the Gold Star Pokémon cards are rare, only appearing once in approximately every 88 booster packs (or two booster boxes) for certain Pokémon TCG expansions, the very rarest are the ‘Eeveelutions’ - the many evolutions into which basic Gen 1 Pokémon Eevee can evolve. And the rarest of the rarest are the original Japanese-language versions of the cards offered to members of the Pokémon Players Club, who could spend points earned by participating in official organised play and tournaments to obtain exclusive cards.

While Eeveelutions Flareon, Jolteon and Vaporeon could be acquired in the EX Power Keepers set released in 2007 via the Pokémon online store, their psychic and dark elemental siblings Espeon and Umbreon could only be picked up by players who collected enough Pokémon Players Club points. The Espeon 025/PLAY card required 40,000 EXP points earned, while Umbreon 026/PLAY was even most pricey at 70,000 points.

While the Japanese versions of the cards are the most valuable due to their limited availability, even the English-language versions of the Espeon and Umbreon Gold Star cards fetch a high price. A Gold Star Espeon rated at PSA 10 Gem Mint condition was sold in February 2021 for over $22,000, while an Umbreon graded at an equally perfect condition fetched just over $20,000 at auction in December 2020. PSA values the two cards at $194,209 and $187,277 respectively, easily making them two of the most valuable Pokémon cards around.

Every copy of this rare and valuable promo card is one-of-a-kind

Sold for $31,200 in April 2021

How much is a original pikachu worth
The 2002 No. 1 Trainer card was personalised with the name of the tournament's winner, making each card entirely unique.

The first of two rare and valuable Pokémon cards called No. 1 Trainer on this list, this particular card was awarded to winners of the regional Battle Road Spring tournaments held in Japan during early 2002. (Battle Road Summer versions were given out during competitions held later that year.)

The regional tournaments were held as qualifiers for the Pokémon World Championships, with the small number of No. 1 Trainer cards produced for the few winners making them some of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence.

Adding to the card's rarity is the fact that each No. 1 Trainer card was customised with the name of the tournament winner printed onto the card, making each card one-of-a-kind. According to auction house Heritage Auctions, the personalised aspect of the cards also mean that they rarely appear at auction, making them an even rarer sight in the world of Pokémon cards.

The 2002 No. 1 Trainer card was illustrated by Ken Sugimori, best known as being one of the original artists and designers for Pokémon's first generation of 151 Pokémon. The text on it reads: "The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament Battle Road Spring 2002 champion is recognised here, and his honour is praised." Sugimori's No. 1 Trainer artwork - featuring fan-favourite Pokémon such as Pikachu, Chansey and Marrill - is exclusive to the card, making it especially unique.

A copy of the 2002 Pokémon World Championships No. 1 Trainer card, complete with its original display folder and even the envelope it was delivered in, sold at auction in April 2021 for just over $31,000. While it's not the absolute rarest of the No. 1 Trainer cards, the card still ranks as one of the most valuable Pokémon cards.

A very rare Pokémon card made ever more valuable by its artist’s autograph

Sold for $55,000 in November 2021

How much is a original pikachu worth
This particular Venusaur card was made even more valuable by the signature of legendary Pokémon illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita. Image: PWCC

Many of the rarest Pokémon cards date from the trading card game’s 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 what’s known as ‘No Rarity’ - meaning that the card is missing the common symbol used to signify a Pokémon card’s rarity.

No Rarity Pokémon cards are among the rarest Pokémon cards in existence, and few come rarer than the Venusaur Pokémon card from the game’s 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 card’s illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita - the legendary artist behind many Pokémon cards from the last 20-plus years - on the card’s case, making the already rare Pokémon card truly one-of-a-kind.

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

Sold for $65,100 in October 2020

How much is a original pikachu worth
With only a dozen given to top players at the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle tournament, the Japanese Tropical Wind promo card is extremely rare.

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.

The answer to "What's the rarest Pokémon card of all time?"

Sold for $90,000 in July 2020

How much is a original pikachu worth
With only seven copies believed to be in existence, the Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer is easily one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever made.

It’s unlikely you’ve heard of Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer, and extremely unlikely you’ve ever seen a copy in person. When it comes to rare Pokémon cards, there are very few cards rarer than this.

No. 1 Trainer is a holographic promotional card awarded to finalists in the Secret Super Battle tournament held in Tokyo, Japan in 1999. (Making it a different card to the 2002 World Championships No. 1 Trainer listed above, despite the similar name.) To earn a place in the competition’s finals, which were held in a secret location, players had to first win a regional tournament. Their prize was the No. 1 Trainer card, which granted them access to the finals.

The card’s text translates to: “The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament's champion is recognised here, and this honour is praised. By presenting this card, you may gain preferential entry into the Secret Super Battle.” The card features the Japanese logo for the “Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game”, along with artwork of original generation Pokémon Mewtwo by illustrator Hideki Kazama.

As only seven regional tournaments were held, it’s believed that just seven copies of this card were made - making it one of rarest Pokémon cards in existence. Six of the ultra-rare cards have since been certified as being in perfect Gem Mint 10 condition by PSA - the prestigious organisation that grades the quality, condition and value of trading cards, up to the highest level of Gem Mint 10 - with a flawless copy selling at auction in July 2020 for $90,000.

This is a card so rare and valuable that Indiana Jones probably had to escape a crumbling temple with it at some point. Its 1999 counterpart cards No. 2 Trainer and No. 3 Trainer, similarly awarded to winners in Japanese Pokémon tournaments during the late 1990s, are almost as rare and valuable.

One of the rarest Pokémon cards of all time, with only 3 known to exist

Sold for $110,100 in February 2021

How much is a original pikachu worth
Just three copies of the 2006 No. 2 Trainer were given to winners of the event, making it one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever made - with a price tag to match. Image: PWCC

Like its equally rare and expensive Trainer trophy cards, the 2006 No. 2 Trainer is one of the rarest Pokémon cards of all time, with only a small handful of cards ever made.

Given as a trophy card to finalists of the Pokémon World Championships held in Anaheim, California during August 2006, in order to claim the card, players had to gain entry to the tournament by collecting enough points to qualify and then make it into the finals of their divisions.

Just three copies of the 2006 No. 2 Trainer are believed to exist, easily making it one of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence. Its rarity also means it commands a high price, with a copy graded at Mint 9 condition by PSA selling for just over $110,000 in February 2021.

The card itself features fan-favourite Pokémon Pikachu holding aloft a silver trophy, finished with a holographic pattern. The card reads: “If you won this card at the 2006 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2007.”

No. 2 Trainer’s rarity and value put it close to the legendarily expensive No. 1 Trainer in terms of rare Pokémon cards - making it one of Pokémon’s most sought-after cards.

A legendary Pokémon on a legendarily rare Pokémon card

Sold for $144,300 in May 2021

How much is a original pikachu worth
The Neo Genesis set is notoriously difficult to grade, making graded cards such as this Lugia some of the most valuable Pokémon cards available.

Lugia is one of the most iconic and popular Pokémon in the entire series, having starred on the front of early Game Boy game Pokémon Silver and its Nintendo DS remake SoulSilver. A legendary bird Pokémon from Gen II, Lugia is one of the most powerful and hard-to-find Pokémon that players can catch in the video games - so it’s only fitting that its Pokémon card is also extremely rare.

The Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia #9 Pokémon card is described by auction house PWCC as one of the most difficult Pokémon cards to grade, as the result of a number of errors and misprints that were included in the early runs of the Neo Genesis set for the Pokémon TCG. Later print runs were corrected, but many of the cards from the expansion remain more common in their earlier uncorrected forms.

As of May 2021, PWCC claims that only 41 Gem Mint 10 condition Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia #9 cards have ever been graded by PSA, with just three earning the maximum BGS 10 Pristine rating from grading company Beckett Grading Services. The Lugia’s rarity means that it ranks almost as highly as the legendary first-edition Charizard when it comes to the most valuable Pokémon cards.

Thanks to its popularity and rarity, the Pokémon card also fetches a very high price at auction. A first-edition Neo Genesis Lugia graded at PSA 10 reportedly sold in October 2020 for $50,000, with a BGS 10 Pristine copy selling in May 2021 for over $144,000. A legendary price for what is definitely a legendary card, in every sense of the word.

The third-rarest Pokémon card of all time

Sold for $150,100 in October 2020

How much is a original pikachu worth
Only three copies of the Kangaskhan trophy card have ever been sold in the last two decades, making it one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever mad.

This valuable Pokémon card dates from the trading card game’s earliest years, having been given to participants in the 1998 Parent/Child Mega Battle tournament held in Japan. As the name implies, teams were made up of parents and children. Those who achieved a set number of victories during the tournament were awarded this special trophy card - the only time it was ever up for grabs, having never been mass produced - making it one of the rarest promo cards available.

What sets the trophy card apart from its commonplace counterparts is the inclusion of the Pocket Monsters Card Game logo - the original Japanese name for the Pokémon TCG - on the card back in addition to the front, marking it out as an extremely rare variant of the original holographic Kangaskhan.

Following the sale of a PSA 7 card in June 2020 for $35,000, a copy of Kangaskhan-Holo #115 graded at Gem Mint 10 by PSA was sold on eBay in October for over $150,000, making the already rare card one of the most valuable Pokémon cards sold in recent years.

At the time, auction house PWCC revealed that only 46 copies of the card have ever been graded, with only three ever being publicly sold in the two-plus decades since the card first appeared. The October 2020 auction was the first such sale of a mint condition card. PWCC described the card as the third-rarest Pokémon card in the world, calling it worthy of a museum. Whether it’s in a museum or someone’s collection, it’s undoubtedly one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever made.

A card featuring the Pokémon Company's President himself.

Sold for $247,230 in April 2021

How much is a original pikachu worth
A card celebrating the Pokémon founder's 60th birthday, and signed by him too.

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.

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

How much is a original pikachu worth
The Blastoise is an ultra-rare Pokémon card that sold at auction for $360,000.

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 (£266,000).

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 TCG’s 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.

A very valuable version of a classic fan-favourite

Sold for $420,000 in March 2022

How much is a original pikachu worth
Shiny Charizard has always been in demand, but its shadowless variant is also extremely rare.

Shiny Charizard has been one of the Pokémon card game’s most popular cards since it first released in 1999, so there’s no surprise that 20-plus years later, it remains one of the most sought-after cards for collectors and fans alike.

While a number of first-edition cards from the Pokémon TCG’s early days are worth some money - assuming they’re still in good nick - due to their limited availability and age, this specific version of the holographic Charizard absolutely stands out as one of the rarest and most valuable Pokémon cards ever released.