Key Takeaways
- The gold star Rayquaza million dollar sale marked the first English-language Pokémon card to exceed $1,000,000, fetching $1,020,000 at auction.
- Its price reflects its CGC Pristine 10 grade, as only one of its kind exists, driving the value significantly higher than previous sales.
- This sale surpassed the previous English-language record held by Charizard, although it still lags behind the Pikachu Illustrator record.
- Gold Star cards from 2004 are rare, making the Rayquaza especially sought after due to low pull rates and unique design features.
- The sale highlights the growing trend of high-end Pokémon card collecting, particularly in regions like the UAE where these are treated as luxury assets.
A 2005 Pokémon EX Deoxys Holo Rayquaza Gold Star has become the first English-language Pokémon card to exceed $1,000,000. The card sold for $1,020,000 USD via the Fanatics Collect August Premier Auction, setting a new benchmark for the English-speaking market.
The #107 card in the EX Deoxys set reached the seven-figure threshold after 35 bids. The final price included the buyer’s premium.
For years, Japanese imports dominated the top tier. Now, the English market has its own million-dollar asset.
The impact of the CGC Pristine 10 grade
The price was driven by the card’s CGC Pristine 10 grade. A Gem Mint 10 of the same card sold for $168,000 USD in July. This Pristine 10 copy fetched over six times that amount due to scarcity.
CGC has assessed more than 250 copies of this card. Only 12 reached Gem Mint 10. This copy is the only one to achieve the Pristine 10 grade and does not appear in the BGS or TAG registries. Fanatics Collect described it as potentially the single greatest copy in existence.
Manufacturing issues make grading difficult. CGC noted the EX Deoxys set frequently suffered from factory edge wear. Most cards leave the factory with imperfections that prevent a perfect score.
Comparing the record to Charizard and Pikachu Illustrator
This sale unseats the previous English-language record held by a PSA Gem Mint 10 First Edition Base Set Charizard, which sold for $954,800 USD. It still trails the all-time Pokémon record held by the Japanese Pikachu Illustrator, which reached $16.492 million USD.
The Rayquaza beat the Charizard record by $65,200 USD. That Charizard had been the benchmark since February, originating from a 2021 box break involving Logan Paul and Ken Goldin. The Pikachu Illustrator remains the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction.
The rarity of Gold Star cards
Gold Star cards, introduced in 2004, appeared at a rate of roughly one per two booster boxes, or once every 72 packs. They feature artwork that extends beyond the standard illustration window.
These cards are identified by their shiny Pokémon and art that spills over the traditional borders. This design makes them distinct from standard Holos. Rayquaza is the most coveted in the series due to the character’s popularity and the low pull rate from the mid-2000s.
Pokémon collecting in the UAE
High-end card collecting is a growing subculture in the UAE. Local collectors use disposable income to hunt for ‘grail’ cards to complete sets that serve as alternative asset classes. In a region where luxury assets are common, these cards are treated with the same seriousness as watches or rare cars.
The million-dollar Rayquaza sale proves that in the Pokémon TCG, perfection is a massive financial multiplier. Monitor our business and culture sections for more updates on alternative asset trends.
