One of the rarest Pokemon TCG cards to ever exist is up for auction. This particular Pokemon TCG card was printed by mistake, at the very beginning of the card game's release in the west, and for all intents and purposes, it wasn't supposed to exist anymore.
Pokemon TCG cards can cost quite a bit, especially when they're new and particularly powerful releases. However, older cards that are rare are the real show-stoppers, with classics like the Charizard holo or Pikachu Illustrator card selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions, depending on their condition. Now, another card is looking to secure a similar amount.
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Pokemon TCG Card That Shouldn't Still Exist is Up for Auction
An incredibly rare Raichu Pokemon TCG card has gone up for auction, which reportedly shouldn't even exist anymore. While the Raichu card looks fairly normal, the description reveals that this is a pre-release card that was printed in 1999, but it was made by mistake. Prior to the launch of Pokemon TCG in the west, Wizards of the Coast held test battles and awarded four special pre-release cards. However, a fifth version, this Raichu, was apparently made. Since it wasn't supposed to be printed, the majority were destroyed, with only eleven allegedly surviving by being taken by then-employees.
Those who are interested in this particular Pokemon TCG collectors' holy grail will need some substantial cash to acquire it. At the time of publication, the card is currently listed at $135,000 USD at Heritage Auctions, with eight days remaining for that number to rise. The card has been verified for authenticity by the PSA and graded, which granted it an EX-MT 6 PSA rating. This rating is used for cards that may have visible surface wear, a light scratch, a loss of gloss, or minor edgewear. While not as ideal as a Gem Mint 10 card, there's no guarantee that a pre-release Raichu in that condition still exists. This one could have the best quality of the remaining copies.
For now, it remains to be seen if this card has the same level of demand as the legendary Pikachu Illustrator. A copy of that Pokemon TCG card sold for over $5 million, which would be hard to match. It's worth noting, though, that only 11 Raichu cards were rescued, making it even rarer than Pikachu Illustrator, which saw 39 cards distributed via a contest.
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Original Release Date
- October 20, 1996