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Top 10 Pokémon card sales of all time

In celebration of Pokémon day, cllct looks at the 10 most expensive cards from the TCG

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Pokémon began to revolutionize the trading card game space since the late 1990s.

To celebrate Pokémon Day, which comes on the anniversary of the original Pokémon video games (Red and Green), cllct lists the top 10 most expensive cards ever sold for the mega-popular TCG.

1. 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Pikachu Holo Illustrator CoroCoro Comics PSA 10: $5,275,000

In a trade with Matt Allen, a collector known for flexing his expensive card collection and lifestyle on social media, internet personality Logan Paul exchanged a Pikachu Holo Illustrator PSA 9 (valued at the time at $1.275 million) and $4 million for the lone PSA 10 example.

One of less than 40 given away to contest winners in 1998, a year before the famed base edition would be released in the United States, the Pikachu Illustrator is widely considered one of the most coveted cards in all of Pokémon, if not card collecting overall.

2. 1995 Pokemon Japanese Topsun Charizard Blue Back PSA 10: $493,230

The Topsun cards were among the earliest Pokémon cards ever produced. (Credit: PSA)
The Topsun cards were among the earliest Pokémon cards ever produced. (Credit: PSA)

Among the earliest Pokémon cards ever produced, the Topsun cards were made by Top-Seika in either 1995 or 1997 and released in packages of gum.

The Blue back version lacks numbering on the reverse, which identifies it as the earlier iteration of the Topsun release.

3. 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Silver 2nd-2nd Tournament Trophy Pikachu PSA 10: $444,000

Given to the second-place winner in the second 1997-98 Japanese Lizardon Mega Battle Pokemon tournament events, the second official Japanese tournament, with artwork by well-known Pokémon artist Mitsuhiro Arita (also known for work on Final Fantasy XI).

It’s believed less than 20 such cards exist.

4. 1999 Pokemon Base Set Shadowless 1st Edition Holo Charizard PSA 10: $420,000

The most recognizable and arguably most-coveted Pokémon card on this list, from the set that brought Pokémania to the West.

A Base Set Shadowless Charizard PSA 10 hit its peak price of $420,000 in March 2022. Since then, the 125 examples to achieve a PSA 10 grade have fallen in value, most recently selling for less than $210,000.

5. 1996 Pokemon Japanese Base Set Holo Charizard No Rarity Arita Auto PSA 10: $324,000

This example featured a No Rarity designation and was also signed by artist Mitsuhiro Arita. (Credit: Fanatics Collect)
This example featured a No Rarity designation and was also signed by artist Mitsuhiro Arita. (Credit: Fanatics Collect)

The “No Rarity” designation of the 1996 Japanese release, among the first ever produced, is identified by the lack of the symbol that would appear on later releases, as well as its card-back, which reads “Pocket Monsters,” the original name for Pokémon.

This copy is signed by artist Mitsuhiro Arita.

6. 2017 Pokémon Sun & Moon Black Star Tsunekazu Ishihara Signed Pokemon GX Promo Card PSA/DNA 7/9: $247,230

Never made available for public consumption, the promo card was given to attendees of Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara's birthday party at the 2018 Pokémon World Championships in Nashville, Tenn.

It’s believed less than 200 were produced — some estimates are lower.

7. 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Bronze 3rd-2nd Tournament Trophy Pikachu PSA 8: $216,000

Much like the trophy card mentioned above for the second-place finishers at the 1997-98 Japanese Lizardon Mega Battle Pokemon tournament events, this was given out to third-place contestants.

8. 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Family Event Trophy Card Holo Kangaskhan PSA 10: $216,000

These trophy cards were given out to contestants at the Kangaskhan Parent/Child Tournament in 1998. (Credit: Fanatics Collect)
These trophy cards were given out to contestants at the Kangaskhan Parent/Child Tournament in 1998. (Credit: Fanatics Collect)

One of the more well-known trophy cards, issues were given out to contestants at the Kangaskhan Parent/Child Tournament in 1998.

Winning teams received two copies while the rest of the top eight received one each. PSA has graded 91 copies of the card, with just 12 receiving a PSA 10.

9. 2005 Pokemon Japanese Play Promo 70,000 Pts Holo Umbreon Gold Star PSA 10: $180,000

In order to receive this card, collectors had to be enrolled in the Pokémon Players Club and rack up certain tiers of points (earned through participation and performance in competitions).

According to Fanatics, players had to participate in more than 190 events to gain the 70,000 points to earn the Umbreon prize.

PSA and BGS have graded a total of 61 total examples, with 23 receiving a PSA 10 and no BGS 10s.

10. 2000 Pokemon Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia BGS 10: $144,300

From one of the most historic releases after the base set, the Lugia card from Neo Genesis remains in high demand.

Of the more than 7,400 graded by various companies, just four have been graded BGS 10 Pristine, with 44 PSA 10s and six CGC Pristine examples.

Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.