Seemingly out of nowhere late last year, trading cards became all the rage again, as fans, social media personalities, and celebrities alike all discovered the value that such cards hold. This was especially true for the Pokemon TCG, and since then, the cards have flown off of store shelves and digital retailers at the drop of a hat, even causing some retailers like Target to take steps to combat Pokemon card scalpers.
Aside from new Pokemon TCG releases, older cards have skyrocketed in popularity on third-party reselling markets as well. This has seen many rare cards in mint condition like the classic coveted Base Set holographic Charizard to go for hundreds of thousands of dollars in auctions. Now, a more recent Pokemon card featuring the CEO of The Pokemon Company has gone on to break Pokemon TCG auction records.
In a recent auction run by Goldin Auctions, a rare promotional Pokemon card featuring Tsunekazu Ishihara has sold for $247,230. The near-mint Ishihara GX card features the Pokemon Company CEO along with a Master Ball and a Rotom, and also bears the CEO's signature. While this isn't the most expensive Pokemon card ever sold in auction, it is the most expensive 2017 Pokemon card sold now, as well as being unique in that, aside from Rotom, the card doesn't feature an actual Pokemon.
This Black Star Promo card was produced and given away at a special private party for Ishihara's 60th birthday at the 2018 Pokemon World Championships in Nashville, Tennessee. Reportedly, the card was only ever distributed to the CEO's closest friends and coworkers as a token of appreciation, and it is believed that only around 30 to 200 copies of the trading card were actually printed. It's interesting to consider how much the card has gone up in value recently, as this nearly $250,000 PSA 7 (near-mint) Ishihara GX absolutely topples over a PSA 10 (virtually perfect condition) Ishihara GX card that sold just last July in an auction for $50,000.
Of course, the Pokemon card is rather humorous, seeing as Ishihara is considered to be a Dragon-type Ultra Beast Pokemon, also with no Weaknesses, no Resistances, and no Retreat Cost. What's even more out there, is Ishihara GX's Ability, which means that Ishihara GX is virtually invincible, unable to take any sort of damage, status effects, or the like from an opponent. Additionally, the card's "60 Congratulations! GX" attack not only deals 1060HP of damage, but also allows the player to flip 60 coins in reference to the CEO's 60th birthday.
Just last month, a Charizard card sold for over $310,000 in an eBay auction, with many considering it one of the rarest Pokemon cards to ever be sold. Now, as Pokemon cards continue to skyrocket in popularity, it will be interesting to see what other trading cards sell for ridiculously high prices.
Source: Goldin Auctions