Based on how often we hear about rare Pokémon cards selling for piles of money, they don’t feel that rare. In February 2022, one collector dropped $900,000 on a particular Pikachu-Holo Illustrator card. This time around a collector is selling a 1998 Pikachu Illustrator card PSA 8. The latter grade comes from the Professional Sports Authenticator company. The company rates cards on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the best. So, this 1998 Pikachu Illustrator card ranks pretty high. Pokémon fan and eBay seller Tomoya Ohno is putting the starting bid for the card at $480,000.

Pokémon collector Tomoya Ohno holds up a 1998 Pikachu Illustrator card PSA 8 card for sale
eBay

While we perhaps use the term “rare” too often with Pokémon cards, it seems to apply here. A release calls this Pikachu card a “holy grail.” It was only given to 41 winners of the 1997 and 1998 Pokémon Illustrator contests. PSA has certified about 24 Pikachu Illustrator cards total, to date. So not too many of the cards have come across the grading company’s radar.

eBay

The 1998 Pikachu Illustrator card PSA 8 listing will go live on eBay on February 24 at 5:00 p.m. PT. It’s launching just ahead of National Pokémon Day. The auction will run for 10 days. We’re curious how much this rare Pokémon card will sell for.