Pokemon is the biggest entertainment franchise in the world; with a fandom of its size, there are many hardcore memorabilia collectors amongst them. Easily the most sought-after items are the rarest Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) cards. Knowing this, anyone with a childhood collection of trading cards lying around probably has one question in mind: Will Pokemon cards go up in value? Here’s the need-to-know on whether or not holding onto that old card collection is worthwhile.
Does the value of Pokemon cards increase over time?
There’s a strong nostalgia for the Pokemon franchise, but does that translate to fans spending big money on trading cards? It’s a question that many people ask, though, ultimately, it can go either way. Pokemon is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year — a lot of people that grew up alongside the franchise are now adults with fond memories and disposable income. That can be a recipe for profit, but the outcome is almost entirely dependant on an item’s condition.
Pokemon cards will increase in value over time. How much their worth goes up depends on factors like the condition, rarity, and age of a card. 1st edition Pokemon trading cards are the most desirable to collectors, though in order to sell for anywhere close to thousands of dollars they must be officially graded in mint condition.
The price of almost any Pokemon card will increase somewhat over time. Trading cards eventually go out of print, which makes them harder to get hold of commercially. If they reprint, the new run of cards won’t be 1st edition and are inherently less desirable (making them less valuable). Private 1st edition owners can damage and lose cards, or refuse to resell, which over the years makes any specific Pokemon card grow increasingly rare.
So, it’s definitely worth keeping and caring for old Pokemon cards as they likely will increase in value over time. Note, however, that the price tag probably won’t skyrocket. Most increases are small, unlike the handful of rare cases that receive widespread coverage.
Eight limited sets of Pokemon 25th anniversary cards are launching in 2021. It’s possible that these will become a hot commodity in the future.
Bizarrely, there’s also a virtual Pokemon x Post Malone concert coming up as part of the P25 celebrations.
