Some Pokémon cards have a very high value. You can assess for yourself how valuable your collection is based on a few factors.
Determining the Value of Pokémon Cards: Rarity
If you found your old Pokémon card collection while rummaging through the attic, you may have real treasures in your hands. Many Pokémon cards have increased in value over time – especially if they are special editions or rare cards.
- The symbol in the bottom right corner in particular provides information about the rarity level of a Pokémon card.
- The circle indicates a card that appears frequently (also called “common”). These cards are usually not worth much because the probability of getting one of them is relatively high.
- A diamond represents a “not so common” card (also “uncommon”). You can often find Pokémon in the first stage of evolution and basic Pokémon without evolution (except for legendary Pokémon).
- A star marks a rare card (also “rare”). These are mainly 2nd stage Pokémon, legendary Pokémon and other special cards.
Determine the type of Pokémon card
To find out the value, you should take a close look at the type of card. In addition to the traditional Pokémon cards, there are some with special designs or powers. Look out for holograms, gold cards, an suffix after the card name (ex, GC, V, VMAX, VSTAR) and an embossed surface.
- If there are glitter effects in the image, they are called holographic cards, or “holo” for short. On card lists, but not on the card itself, these copies are marked with an “H” after the star symbol.
- Three stars (from the “Neo Destiny” generation onwards) indicate “Shimmering Pokémon”, which correspond to the Shinys from the editions. They are characterized by an unusual color for the Pokémon and are also called “Triple Star”.
- So-called “Pokémon LEGENDS” have a gold star. These cards only depict legendary Pokémon. Except for “Ho-Oh LEGEND” and “Lugia LEGEND”, there are always two Pokémon on it.
- A silver star denotes several different species: “Pokémon ex” includes specimens that are stronger than their counterparts. The “ex” stands for extra. “Pokémon ☆” contains Pokémon that are rare and also shiny. “Pokémon Primus” includes Pokémon that are stronger than their counterparts, but are not played with the restrictions that affect the “ex” cards. Finally, there are the cards of the type “Pokémon LV.X”, which only have the level “X” and become serious opponents through the player's strategic moves.
- A white star indicates ultra-rare cards. Many of the cards that are marked with a star variant also have a hologram.
- To the left of the symbol you will also see a number, which is also an indication of the value. If the second number is 102, this means the card belongs to the 1st Edition Base Set. This is particularly sought after and therefore has a high resale value.
Particularly popular Pokémon cards
There are also Pokémon cards that have no special marking and are still very popular with collectors.
- The most popular Pokémon cards include Pickachu, Charizard, Gengar, Lugia, Rayquaza and the evolutions of Eevee (Nachtara, Blitza, Aquana, Flamara, etc.). If you have one of these in your collection, it could be of great value.
- 1st edition cards are usually more valuable than reprints.
- Misprints and miscuts can also fetch high prices from collectors.
- Depending on the rarity level, demand, supply and market situation, the value of individual cards can decrease or increase.
- Also check that your rare Pokémon card is not a fake.
Frequently asked questions and answers
What are Pokémon cards worth?
Depending on the rarity level, demand, but also supply and market situation, the value of Pokémon cards can vary greatly. However, 1st edition cards are usually worth a lot more than cards from other editions.
Which Pokémon cards are worth a lot?
Cards from the first edition are worth a lot. However, certain misprints and miscuts can also fetch high prices from collectors. The most sought-after Pokémon cards are Charizard – Basic Set, 1st Edition for $369,000, Blastoise – Prototype for $360,000 and Illustrator Pikachu – CoroCoro Comics for $233,000
How do you determine the value of Pokémon cards?
You can try to determine the approximate value of a Pokémon card by looking at the symbol at the bottom right of the card. Unusual and special cats are marked with a diamond or a star.
What does the PSA value mean on Pokémon cards?
“PSA” stands for “Professional Sports Authenticator”. This valuation company evaluates the value of, among other things, Pokémon cards and awards a special, secured value to cards sent to the PSA by owners. The highest value a card can achieve is 10.
Which Pokémon cards are increasing in value?
Depending on the rarity level, demand, but also supply and market situation, the value of certain Pokémon cards can decrease or increase.
Determine the value of Pokémon cards: Research pays off
Search engines and online portals help you determine the value of your cards even more precisely.
- Type the name of the card into a search engine, followed by the rarity level if necessary and finally the serial number, which is located in the bottom right corner next to the rarity symbol.
- Compare the prices of the different portals.
- On hood.de and eBay you can often find many offers from users offering used cards. They can be compared quickly and easily. However, you should always pay attention to the condition of the items. If your card is brand new, you may be able to charge more. If auctions have already ended, you can also ask for more if demand is greater than supply.
- If your card is still in “brand new condition”, it may also be advisable to check online shops such as Amazon. If the offers for the new cards are out of stock and no longer available, there is a good chance that your card is worth a little more than it used to be.
- Please note that these are estimates only. Different values can be set depending on the market situation, condition and rarity level as well as other factors that influence the market. However, this will give you a rough idea of the value of your card.
- Websites like Cardmarket offer purchase lists or other search options that you can access online to determine the purchase value of your card.
- Spit itIf online research doesn't produce any fruitful results, you can no longer avoid going to a professional. Get in touch with local collectors or professional dealers.