Games and cards have long been tied to money. Think of trading properties in Monopoly, playing financial literacy games that teach you how to manage money, or collecting cards that can be worth more over time.
Today, one of the biggest collectible card crazes is the Pokémon Trading Card Games. For those new to it, it is a game where you battle using Pokémon. There are many Card series and themes to choose from. It is a strategic two-player tabletop game launched in Japan in 1996 and globally in 1999. [1, 2].
The Pokémon Company International now directly manages the global physical and digital circulation of the game. Official digital options include Pokémon TCG Live for competitive matches and the streamlined mobile app Pokémon TCG Pocket.
Many vintage cards used stock photographs sourced from Japanese digital photo catalogs like Datacraft Sozaijiten for their backgrounds.
Modern expansions feature full-art cards, continuous connected multi-card illustrations, and hidden pop culture or video game Easter eggs.
The absolute peak of the Pokémon trading card market features extreme scarcity, historical significance, and jaw-dropping price tags. In recent years, auction ceilings have shattered, making the rarest Pokémon cards competitive with the most valuable sports memorabilia in history.
The most elite, valuable, and rarest Pokémon cards ever printed include:
1. Pikachu Illustrator (1998)
Why It’s Rare: Given exclusively as a prize to 39 winners of a 1998 CoroCoro Comic illustration contest, this card features unique artwork by Pikachu’s original designer, Atsuko Nishida.
The Record: Previously owned by YouTuber Logan Paul, the world’s only known PSA Gem Mint 10 copy sold at Goldin Auctions for a historic $16.492 million. Verified by Guinness World Records, it stands as the most expensive trading card ever sold at a public auction across any franchise.
2. Pokémon Art Academy Pikachu (2015)
Why It’s Rare: Created for a special 2014–2015 contest through the Nintendo 3DS game Pokémon Art Academy, where winning entrants had their custom artwork printed onto official promotional cards. Only 100 total copies across all designs were originally printed.
The Record: September 2026, an incredibly rare variant illustrated by Y. Fujishima sold for a staggering $8.4 million at a Fanatics Collect auction, making it the second-most expensive Pokémon card ever publicly sold.
3.First Edition Base Set Charizard (1999)
Why It’s Rare: The “holy grail” of English vintage sets. A perfect version must be a 1st Edition print, featuring a distinct “Shadowless” frame around the character window.
The Record: A pristine PSA 10 copy commanded $420,000 at auction in March 2022. While millions of Charizards exist globally, finding an original 1999 printing in perfect, unblemished condition is scarce.
4. Blastoise Wizards of the Coast Presentation Card (1998)
Why It’s Rare: This is a literal piece of history, a test print created by Wizards of the Coast in 1998 to pitch the Pokémon trading card game concept to Nintendo executives before the English release.
The Record: Only two copies are known to exist. One features a blank back and a unique gold border, which fetched $360,000 at a Heritage Auctions event.
A Little Closer to Home
This year, a couple of good friends, now in their thirties, discovered they still had the Pokémon cards they collected in primary school, back when playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game was their favourite pastime.
They hadn’t played in years, so they decided to have their collections valued and sell them.
To their surprise, one of them sold his collection for RM7,100. His friend, who had a bigger collection, got more than RM14,000. It was an unexpected windfall. What they had once seen as childhood toys had quietly grown in value over the years.
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There can be financial value in the hobbies and collections we accumulate over time. Pokémon cards are just one example of a global collectibles market that includes items such as coins, stamps, watches, art, toys and other memorabilia.
This also raises an interesting question about financial planning: How should a collection be accounted for if you choose to keep it because you believe it may appreciate in value?
A collection with meaningful market value may be included as a collectible asset in your overall financial position. Its estimated market value can then be reviewed periodically, typically as part of an annual financial review, along with any items acquired or sold during the year.
However, collectibles should be viewed differently from conventional investments. Their value can be difficult to determine, markets can be unpredictable, and there is no guarantee that an item will appreciate in value. The value of a collection may also depend on its condition, authenticity, rarity and demand among collectors.
The takeaway is not to turn every hobby into an investment, but to recognise the potential value of the things you already own and understand how they fit into your broader financial picture.
That childhood collection sitting quietly in a cupboard may be worth taking a closer look at. Marvel Comics, anyone?
Linnet Lee, CFP®, IFP® CEO, Resolute Planning Sdn Bhd
Linnet Lee is the CEO of Resolute Planning Sdn Bhd, a financial planning firm licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia. With over 26 years in the industry, she has held leadership roles including CEO of the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia and Head of Financial Planning at Standard FA.
Key industry contributions include being the past Chair of APAC Forum for the global Financial Planning Standards Board. She is currently an Industry Fellow for Social Wellbeing Research Centre, University Malaya.
Regulatory contributions under FPAM include Team Lead for SC-led Joint Action Plan from 2017 to 2024 resulting in establishment of professional standards and best practises for LFPs as well as a dedicated website for their listing. Latest initiative is leading the firm operating standards, established for licenced financial planning firms.
Her expertise in the financial industry spans across unit trusts, insurance, estate planning, and fee-based financial planning. She began her career in unit trust and later becoming a sought-after industry speaker, facilitator and consultant for organisations.
Linnet is a strong advocate for financial literacy. She regularly speaks at public forums, contributes articles to major financial publications, and appears on TV and radio shows. She also conducts financial literacy workshops for employees and individuals.
She has also developed and facilitated sales, customer servicing and attitudinal workshops for different industries.
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About THE AUTHOR
Linnet Lee
Linnet Lee
Linnet Lee, CFP®, IFP®CEO, Resolute Planning Sdn Bhd
Linnet Lee is the CEO of Resolute Planning Sdn Bhd, a financial planning firm licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia. With over 26 years in the industry, she has held leadership roles including CEO of the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia and Head of Financial Planning at Standard FA.
Key industry contributions include being the past Chair of APAC Forum for the global Financial Planning Standards Board. She is currently an Industry Fellow for Social Wellbeing Research Centre, University Malaya.
Regulatory contributions under FPAM include Team Lead for SC-led Joint Action Plan from 2017 to 2024 resulting in establishment of professional standards and best practises for LFPs as well as a dedicated website for their listing. Latest initiative is leading the firm operating standards, established for licenced financial planning firms.
Her expertise in the financial industry spans across unit trusts, insurance, estate planning, and fee-based financial planning. She began her career in unit trust and later becoming a sought-after industry speaker, facilitator and consultant for organisations.
Linnet is a strong advocate for financial literacy. She regularly speaks at public forums, contributes articles to major financial publications, and appears on TV and radio shows. She also conducts financial literacy workshops for employees and individuals.
She has also developed and facilitated sales, customer servicing and attitudinal workshops for different industries.
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