Gold Pokémon Cards - Are They Real & How Much Are They Worth?
If you've ever played Pokémon trading card games, you may have overheard collectors discussing the new 'gold Pokémon cards.' Are gold Pokémon cards even real, you wonder? The answer is surprisingly yes! The first iteration of a gold Pokémon card came in the form of a 23-carat gold-plated card introduced by a fast-food chain. It might sound crazy, but it's absolutely true! Now that you know they are real, we are going to cover everything you need or would want to know about those elusive gold Pokémon cards!
Table of Contents
Gold Pokémon Card History
The initial real golden Pokémon cards made their debut in 2013 with the release of the Pokémon Black & White Legendary Treasures expansion. The goal was to fulfill players' desire for an official gold Pokémon card, and that's precisely what the Pokémon Company did by releasing the first two golden Pokémon cards, Reshiram and Zekrom.
Since then, gold Pokémon cards have been steadily released with each new set, and the list continues to grow. At this point, I assume you're curious about what that 23-carat gold-plated Pokémon card looks like, who sold it, and maybe even how to identify normal gold Pokémon cards. Don't worry; we've got you covered. Let's get right into it!
Pokémon Card Rarity
If you are looking to obtain a gold Pokémon card, understanding rarity is crucial. We will briefly cover all the Pokémon card rarities; for a detailed understanding, check out our Pokémon card rarities guide. Gold Pokémon cards fall under the hyper-rare category, marked with three gold stars in the bottom left corner.
The pull rates for these cards vary between sets, but generally, your chances of pulling one are about 1 in 53. If obtaining a gold Pokémon card is your goal, I recommend buying the specific one you want, instead of opening packs to save money in the long run. Below is an image of each rarity for reference.
Burger King Gold Pokémon Cards
Now that you have a basic idea of what to look for when you are hunting those rare golden Pokémon cards, let's get into that 23-carat gold-plated Pokémon card I was talking about! It's wild to think about, but Burger King was actually the first company to release a gold Pokémon card to the public, although it was not in traditional card form.
When Burger King first launched their gold-plated cards in 1999, they came in a little plastic fully interactive Pokéball that opened and closed, exactly like the image shown above, which is my personal Pikachu gold-plated card that I've kept all this time! In the initial launch, Burger King released 6 gold-plated Pokémon cards: Jigglypuff, Charizard (I wish I had this one), Pikachu, Poliwhirl, Mewtwo and Togepi.
Gold Pokémon Cards Value
Now you are probably wondering, what are these collectibles worth? Well, unfortunately, these were mass-produced and contained very little gold, so they aren't worth that much. Even the Pikachu one I own was last sold on eBay for only $30. However, don't let that deter you because when it comes to the gold Pokémon card value in the trading card world, the numbers can become quite impressive.
Most Expensive Golden Pokémon Cards
Discover the actual value of Gold Pokémon cards. A visually engaging table has been created to display the current most expensive Gold Pokémon cards, ranked by price. While prices can fluctuate, as of today, these are the top 10 priciest Gold Pokémon cards in the game.
| Card | Set | Rarity | Approx. Price | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Ball | Plasma Freeze | Secret Rare | $300 | TCGPlayer |
| Escape Rope | Burning Shadows | Secret Rare | $105.13 | TCGPlayer |
| Reshiram | Legendary Treasures | Secret Rare | $100 | TCGPlayer |
| Rare Candy | Plasma Blast | Secret Rare | $95 | TCGPlayer |
| Zekrom | Legendary Treasures | Secret Rare | $90 | TCGPlayer |
| Ultra Necrozma-GX | Dragon Majesty | Secret Rare | $74.10 | TCGPlayer |
| Snorlax | Chilling Reign | Secret Rare | $71.33 | TCGPlayer |
| Energy Recycler | Forbidden Light | Secret Rare | $55 | TCGPlayer |
| Fairy Energy | Burning Shadows | Secret Rare | $44.68 | TCGPlayer |
| Solgaleo GX | Ultra Prism | Secret Rare | $39.78 | TCGPlayer |
What are Gold "Raised Foil Effect" Pokemon Cards and Are They Real?
Well, now that you know gold Pokémon cards can have real value, let's get into the recent sets and the new gold foil Pokémon cards. In the recent set that was just released,
Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates, Pokémon introduced a new type of gold Pokémon card. It features a new raised foil effect that appears on several cards, including some of my personal favorites,
Chien-Pao EX and
Miraidon EX. This unique new foiling is really awesome and provides a fresh appearance for gold Pokémon cards being released in the future
Most Recent Gold Pokémon Cards
Here are the top 10 most recent golden Pokémon cards in order by price; these prices can change at any time:
| Card | Set | Rarity | Approx. Price | Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charizard EX | Obsidian Flames | Hyper-rare | $20.81 | TCGPlayer |
| Chien Pao EX | Paldean Fates | Hyper-rare | $13.89 | TCGPlayer |
| Miraidon EX | Paldean Fates | Hyper-rare | $12.86 | TCGPlayer |
| Roaring Moon EX | Paradox Rift | Hyper-rare | $12.34 | TCGPlayer |
| Koraiden EX | Paldean Fates | Hyper-rare | $10.73 | TCGPlayer |
| Garchomp EX | Paradox Rift | Hyper-rare | $9.59 | TCGPlayer |
| Chi-Yu | Paldean Fates | Hyper-rare | $8.81 | TCGPlayer |
| Mew EX | Scarlet & Violet 151 | Hyper-rare | $8.51 | TCGPlayer |
| Counter Catcher | Paradox Rift | Hyper-rare | $8.14 | TCGPlayer |
| Reversal Energy | Paradox Rift | Hyper-rare | $6.82 | TCGPlayer |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are gold Pokemon cards officially recognized in the Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) rarity system?
ButtonYes, gold Pokemon cards are a legitimate part of the Pokemon TCG rarity system. These cards often fall into the category of special editions or hyper rare cards, adding an extra layer of exclusivity and desirability among collectors.
Can you still obtain the Burger King gold-plated Pokémon cards?
ButtonYes, you can. However, Burger King no longer gives this out. If you want to obtain a gold-plated card from the 1999 campaign they did, you would need to purchase it from a reputable seller. The easiest way is through eBay.
Are Pokémon gold cards worth anything?
ButtonGold-plated Pokémon cards aren't worth much, with sales reaching only about $50 at most for individual ones. However, some of the newer and older official gold Pokémon trading cards are sometimes worth a decent price!
Can gold Pokemon cards be used in official Pokemon TCG tournaments, or are they purely for collecting?
ButtonWhile gold Pokemon cards are captivating collectibles, they are generally not allowed in official Pokemon TCG tournaments. Tournament play typically adheres to a specific set of rules, excluding special edition or promotional cards to maintain a fair and standardized gaming environment.
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About the author: Kamryn Kirwan
Card collector, gamer, Pokémon enthusiast
Kamryn Kirwan is a passionate writer for TCG Review who loves gaming and collecting cards. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and expertise with the gaming community, and if you're looking to read something that's more than just generic tips, he's got your back.
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