In today’s world, Pokemon cards are worth a fortune. They’re a valuable collector’s item and can go for thousands of dollars, as evidenced by one person who took their cards to Antiques Roadshow for an appraisal. This individual had a binder filled with original cards that were likely worth between $5,000 to $10,000.
The Value of Original Pokemon Cards
The binder that was appraised contained the 1999 base set of Pokemon cards, which includes the first 102 cards. This set also includes the 16 original holographic cards, which are among the most valuable. According to Travis Landry, the appraiser in the video linked above, the popularity of Pokemon as a media franchise led to an explosion of card values during the pandemic.
The Value of Shadowless Cards
But it’s not just any Pokemon cards that are worth a lot of money. There was a brief period of time where cards were printed without shadows, resulting in “shadowless” cards that are highly prized by collectors. One of the most valuable shadowless cards is the Mewtwo card, which is estimated to be worth between $800 to $1,200. The shadowless Charizard is even more valuable, with a range of $2,000 to $3,000. However, as Landry notes, the market for Pokemon cards is “extremely volatile.” Shadowless Charizards sold for up to $15,000 early in 2021.
Getting the Full Value for Pokemon Cards
If you have valuable Pokemon cards, it’s important to get them graded by a third party like CGC in order to get their full value. Although the appraiser estimated the value of the cards in the binder to be between $5,000 to $10,000, this amount is likely not what the owner will receive when selling unless they are graded properly.
Pokemon Game Updates
Aside from this exciting news about Pokemon cards, recent game updates have also brought joy to players. Scarlet and Violet has received a patch that fixed several bugs, including one that previously prevented players from catching Paradox Pokemon. Gamers everywhere are rejoicing at the ability to finally catch the elusive Paradox Pokemon.
Conclusion
The world of Pokemon continues to thrive, from collector’s items that can range in value from hundreds to thousands of dollars to game updates that keep players engaged and entertained. If you have valuable Pokemon cards, be sure to get them graded by a third party in order to receive their full value. And for gamers, don’t forget to keep exploring and catch ’em all.
