CGC-certified Charizard and No. 2 Trainer Cards Each Realize Five Figures in March PWCC Auctions

CGC-certified Pokémon cards were once again in the spotlight in March PWCC auctions, including two high-value cards that turned heads in PWCC's monthly Premium Auction. These were just some of the thousands of CGC-certified TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards that were graded through the partnership between CGC Cards and PWCC Marketplace and then sold in March and April 2024.

A Charizard, Pokémon (1999) Base Set 1st Edition Holo graded CGC Gem Mint 10 was the highest-selling CGC-certified card in PWCC's March 2024 Premium Auction, where it sold for $33,600. One of the very first Pokémon cards designed by Mitsuhiro Arita, Charizard from Base Set has long been one of the ultimate chase cards within the entire Pokémon TCG. The Shadowless 1st Edition variant is one of the earliest examples of the card and is one of the most sought after because of its rarity. CGC Cards has graded a total of 461 examples of Base Set 1st Edition Charizard, with 24 examples graded CGC Gem Mint 10 and a mere two graded higher, according to the CGC Cards Population Report.

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Additionally, a No. 2 Trainer, Pokémon (2002) Japanese Spring Battle Road 2nd Place Prize Promo graded CGC Gem Mint 10 also sold in the Premium Auction for $13,800. The No. 1 through 3 Trainer promo cards were awarded to the top three players of the Masters League division of the 2002 Spring Battle Road competition. Winners received both a personalized and non-personalized version of their respective award. This card is a non-personalized variant.

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Meanwhile, hundreds of CGC-certified sports cards sold through PWCC in March as well, with the top highlight being a rookie card of strikeout king Nolan Ryan. A 1968 Topps #177 Jerry Koosman/Nolan Ryan graded CGC 5 realized $720 on March 31. There is no official standalone Ryan rookie card, but the dual New York Mets rookie card featuring Ryan and Koosman was made in four versions: Topps, Milton Bradley, O-Pee-Chee and Venezuelan Topps. Although the regular Topps version is the least rare, it is also the most sought after by collectors of the Hall of Fame pitcher who was the MLB's strikeout leader in 11 different seasons.

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Another sports card highlight from March's PWCC sales was a 2018 Panini Origins Rookie Jumbo Patch Autographs #104 Josh Allen - Red graded CGC 8.5, with an autograph graded CGC 10 that sold for $516 on March 17. This is the second time in the last two months that this particular card of the two-time Pro Bowler sold through PWCC. Allen is among the NFL's elite QBs, throwing more than 4,000 passing yards each of the last four seasons. The quarterback and his Bills teammates are still on the hunt to bring a Super Bowl title to Buffalo, but his popularity across the league and especially with the Bills' enthusiastic fan base makes Allen's signed rookie cards like this one highly desirable.

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Other recent TCG and non-sports card sales highlights include:

• a Victory Ring, Pokémon (2014) Japanese XY & XY BREAK Promos - XY-P Lizardon Mega Battle - 2nd Place Prize graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $9,600 on March 31
• a Lugia, Pokémon (2000) Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $5,160 on March 10
• a Gyarados, Pokémon (1999) Base Set 1st Edition Holo graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $3,360 on March 31
• a Typhlosion, Pokémon (2000) Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $2,250 on March 17
• an Ultra Ball, Pokémon (2017) Sun & Moon International Championships North American Champion Promo graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $2,190 on March 31

Other recent sports card sales highlights include:

• a 2020-21 Panini Prizm #258 Anthony Edwards - Silver graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $408 on March 24
• a 2019 Panini Contenders Draft Picks #17 Giannis Antetokounmpo - Championship Ticket graded CGC 9.5 that realized $300 on March 24
• a 1985-86 Topps #9 Mario Lemieux graded CGC 8.5 that realized $280 on March 21
• a 1980 Panini F1 Grand Prix #33 Scuderia Ferrari graded CGC 8.5 that realized $264 on March 10
• a 1980 Panini F1 Grand Prix #59 McLaren graded CGC 9 that realized $264 on March 10

Notable Upcoming PWCC Sales

PWCC Marketplace continues to offer CGC-certified cards in their weekly, fixed and premium auction formats. One of the highlights available in March is a 1996-97 SPx #8 Michael Jordan graded CGC 9.5. As arguably the greatest basketball player ever, Jordan's collectibles are always in high demand. One of the more unique cards from His Airness' career in Chicago, the 1996-97 SPx #8 features a huge hologram on the front of the card, and high-grade examples like this one can be worth hundreds of dollars.

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Other TCG and non-sports cards in the upcoming April auctions include:

• an Illusion's Zoroark, Pokémon (2010) Japanese LEGEND Promos - L-P Illus: Yamane - Leon's Advice Collection graded CGC 8.5
• a Charizard, Pokémon (2003) Skyridge Holo graded CGC Gem Mint 10
• a Sol Ring, Magic: The Gathering (1993) Limited Edition Alpha graded CGC 8
• a Shivan Dragon, Magic: The Gathering (2001) Seventh Edition Foil graded CGC Gem Mint 10
• an Erika's Venusaur, Pokémon (2000) Gym Challenge 1st Edition Holo graded CGC Pristine 10

Other sports cards in the upcoming April auctions include:

• a 2020 Topps Chrome Formula 1 #135 Lewis Hamilton - Purple Refractor #'d/399 graded CGC 9
• a 2021 Topps 1986 Topps 35th Anniversary Autographs #86A-RAC Ronald Acuna Jr. graded CGC 9
• a 2018 Panini Instant World Cup #292 Kylian Mbappe graded CGC 9
• a 1981-82 Topps #4 Larry Bird graded CGC 8
• a 2019 Topps Tribute Autographs #TA-JS Juan Soto graded CGC 8.5, with an autograph graded CGC 10

Sell Your CGC-certified Cards on PWCC Marketplace!

PWCC Marketplace and CGC Cards have created a streamlined pathway to grading and selling through an operational partnership between the two companies. The grading and selling program is accessed via an online submission process on the PWCC website, and everything is managed through the PWCC Vault.

Cards sent to CGC receive priority grading and encapsulation through its third-party grading service for sports cards. Graded cards are returned to PWCC and immediately added to PWCC’s Auction Builder Curation Algorithm process, which optimizes cards for sale in upcoming PWCC Weekly Sunday Auctions.

For more information about this program, click here.

Prices realized include buyer’s premium.

Note: At the time some of these cards were graded, they were encapsulated with the original CGC Cards label. Starting July 11, 2023, CGC Cards began encapsulating cards with the new CGC Cards label. In addition to the new label, collectors enjoy many other benefits with CGC Cards, such as the ability to submit without purchasing a membership and an industry-standard Gem Mint 10 grading scale. For more information, go here.