{"id":6212,"date":"2023-07-07T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moneymade.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=6212"},"modified":"2025-06-03T19:07:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T19:07:54","slug":"old-pokemon-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moneymade.io\/learn\/articles\/old-pokemon-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most Valuable Old Pok\u00e9mon Cards to Invest In"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From Charizard to Mewtwo, widen your investment horizon with old Pok\u00e9mon cards to add hit points to your collection. Read our list of the best old Pokemon cards for cashing in on Pok\u00e9mon nostalgia.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Since 1996, the Pokemon card frenzy has had collectors on a relentless quest for that elusive mint-condition Charizard or Pikachu. <\/em>What began as a casual pastime has evolved into an investment juggernaut, with the Pokemon TCG (Trading Card Game) captivating fans and driving serious profits in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Launched in Japan 27 years ago, the Pokemon Trading Card Game took the United States by storm in 1999, courtesy of the legendary Dungeons & Dragons powerhouse Wizards of The Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The shadowless first edition Holo Charizard [is] worth up to nearly half a million dollars…<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Before long, eagle-eyed collectors spotted big bucks in those elusive rare cards and, intriguingly, even the ones with minor defects\u2014the scarcer, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2003, rights from Wizards of The Coast transferred to The Pokemon Company International. Pokemon has remained such a critical franchise over two decades later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, like most collectibles, from art to comics to figures, old is gold, and the same applies to Pok\u00e9mon cards, with the older ones fetching big numbers compared to their more recent counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are old Pok\u00e9mon cards so valuable?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pok\u00e9mon is now a $100 billion industry, with merchandise covering everything under the sun after decades of cartoons, games, and live-action movies. However, when it comes to profit, Pok\u00e9mon TCG cards have always been the gold standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016 alone, the Pokemon cards industry reached a true behemoth of $2.6 billion mainly due to the launch and success of Pok\u00e9mon Go\u2014also known as the last time the world was truly at peace because everyone was busy running outside trying to catch Pikachus and Gigglypuffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pokemon card market peaked the same year, but the world had been enjoying the Pokemon trading card game for far longer, and that was another factor in the investment boost: Nostalgia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s face it: most people spend big bucks on old collectibles to feel that childhood excitement again. Perhaps buying the 1999 Charizard gold star card with a first edition stamp will make you feel like a kid again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This nostalgia-driven investment approach could work as it did for YouTuber Logan Paul, who seems more than just a casual collector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2020, Logan Paul broke the world record for the most expensive Pokemon card ever bought when he bought a 1998 Pikachu illustrator card, which was PSA 10 ultra-rare Pikachu Pokemon card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Logan Paul bought a PSA gem mint 1998 Pikachu Pokemon card for over $5 million.<\/em>
Source:\u00a0<\/em>guinnessworldrecords.com<\/u><\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Speaking of Logan Paul, he is one of the key reasons Pokemon TCG and Pokemon valuable cards rose even higher in popularity from 2020 to 2021\u2014Pok\u00e9mon card prices increased by 500% during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Logan Paul played a significant role in boosting the popularity of valuable trading cards like Pok\u00e9mon. Amid the pandemic, Pokemon card prices skyrocketed by 500%. He and Celebrities like rapper Logic and DJ Steve Aoki can take credit for this surge, as their YouTube unboxing videos, racking up hundreds of thousands of views, ignited widespread investment in Pok\u00e9mon cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these efforts by popular influencers and celebrities, Pokemon TCG and Pokemon cards, in general, have jumped into the pop cultural zeitgeist, which is lovely for those who still have their old box of trainer cards, starter Pokemon cards, and perhaps a promotional card or two sitting on their shelf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Condition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the world of collectibles, condition is king. The Pokemon grading scale was developed to accurately determine the value of trading cards. This scale evaluates a Pokemon (or sports) card’s condition\u2014a major pricing factor\u2014to ensure collectors have a reliable benchmark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A PSA 8 Charizard Pokemon card can fetch considerably higher sums than an ungraded one, demonstrating how grading impacts a card’s value.<\/em>
Source:\u00a0<\/em>PSACollector.com.<\/u><\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Rarity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like Renaissance paintings minus the conspiracy theories, the rarer a Pokemon card is, the more valuable it is and the more money it fetches. For example, an ultra-rare Blasoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram card is one of only two physical cards, with one selling for over $300,000 in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A rare Blastoise Pokemon card was sold for $360,000 in 2021.<\/em>
Source:\u00a0<\/em>nypost.com<\/u><\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Age<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no secret that older collectibles are more valuable; it\u2019s just a standard we as a species have put together for giving things worth. As for Pokemon cards, 90s cards are the ones to go after because they can reach a profit of seven figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 1999 Charizard Holo 1st edition Pokemon TCG card sold for $420,000 at auction in March 2022.<\/em>
Source:\u00a0<\/em>CNN<\/u><\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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For instance, a PSA gem mint 1999 Pokemon base set shadowless first edition holo Charizard card sold for $420,000 in a 2022 auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Old Pok\u00e9mon card list<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Old Pokemon cards can be a pretty sweet investment, especially with the pandemic seriously boosting the market. Some coolest and most sought-after cards to watch include the 1998 Pikachu Holo Illustrator, the 1999 Base Set Shadowless 1st Edition Holo Charizard, and the 1998 Pokemon Commission Presentation Galaxy Star Holo Blastoise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the most valuable old Pokemon cards that\u2019ll transport you way back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. <\/strong>1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Tamamushi University Prize Magikarp<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n