CGC-certified TCGs and Sports Cards Continue to Make Waves in PWCC Auctions

Two Pokémon cards certified by CGC Cards™ realized five figures in April PWCC Weekly auctions. These were just some of the thousands of CGC-certified TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards that were sold through PWCC Marketplace in April and May 2024.

A University Magikarp, Pokémon (1998) Japanese Tamamushi University Hyper Test Day Two Prize graded CGC Gem Mint 10 realized $27,600 on April 28. University Magikarp was awarded to Japanese children who completed a series of Pokémon-related exams as part of a contest hosted by Shogakukan in 1998 and 1999. CGC Cards has certified 23 examples of University Magikarp, according to the CGC Cards Population Report. Four examples are graded CGC Gem Mint 10, with none graded higher.

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Additionally, a Charizard, Pokémon Topsun Original Series (1997) 006 No Number 1st Print graded CGC Gem Mint 10 realized $16,800 on April 21. Before Media Factory released the Pokémon TCG in 1997, Top Seika released Pokémon Topsun — a special set of promotional Pokémon cards that were distributed in packs of bubblegum. These cards featured the first 150 Pokémon (excluding Mew). Because these cards were distributed from 1995 to 1997, this card is considered the first appearance of Charizard as a collectible trading card. According to the CGC Cards Population Report, CGC Cards has certified 17 examples of the No Number 1st Print Charizard. Three are graded CGC Gem Mint 10, with three more graded higher.

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Meanwhile, hundreds of CGC-certified sports cards sold through PWCC in April as well, with the top highlight being a rare autographed basketball card of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. A 2019-20 Panini Noir Sneaker Spotlight Autograph #SNS-GA Giannis Antetokounmpo graded CGC 9, with an autograph graded CGC 10, realized $1,470 on April 7. Antetokounmpo's first signature Nike sneaker, the Nike Zoom Freak 1, is commemorated on this special card from the Sneaker Spotlight insert series that focuses on players' basketball shoes. The card is numbered to only 99 copies and features the NBA champion and former MVP's signature in blue ink, making it a rare addition to any collection.

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Another sports card highlight from April's PWCC sales was a 2021 Panini Absolute Kaboom! #K30 Peyton Manning graded CGC 9.5 that sold for $300 on April 22. The Kaboom! inserts have become one of the most popular and sought-after football cards on the market each season in recent history. Printed on shiny foil stock, the cards' design features an explosive pattern and animated images of superstar football players. The series contains current stars and retired legends, like two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning, seen here in his Indianapolis Colts jersey from the earlier days of his iconic NFL career.

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

• a Mox Pearl, Magic: The Gathering (1993) Limited Edition Alpha graded CGC 6 that realized $9,526 on April 27
• a Charizard, Pokémon (1999) Base Set Shadowless Holo graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $9,300 on April 28
• a Charizard, Pokémon (1999) German Base Set 1st Edition Holo graded CGC Pristine 10 that realized $8,700 on April 28
• an Illusion’s Zorua, Pokémon (2010) Japanese LEGEND Promos – L-P Illus: Sakaga – Pokémon Fan graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $8,100 on April 14
• an Illusion’s Zoroark, Pokémon (2010) Japanese LEGEND Promos – L-P Illus: Mori – 3rd Grade Winner graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $5,520 on April 14

Other recent sports card sales highlights include:

• a 1931 Olimpicos Jose Andrade certified as CGC AU - Authentic that realized $276 on April 7
• a 1969 Topps #95 Johnny Bench graded CGC 6 that realized $264 on April 7
• a 1988-89 Fleer #17 Michael Jordan graded CGC 9 that realized $192 on April 14
• a 2020 Topps Tribute Autographs #TA-BBI Bo Bichette - Orange graded CGC 9, with an autograph graded CGC 10, that realized $132 on April 21
• a 2015-16 Upper Deck UD Portraits #P-100 Connor McDavid graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $125 on April 4

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 May is a Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece (2023) Promotional Cards – P-033 Promo – Event Pack Vol. 2 graded CGC Pristine 10. The artwork on this full-art card is meant to replicate the cover of Shonen Jump, where One Piece is serialized each week in Japan. CGC Cards has only graded five examples of this Monkey D. Luffy promo card, according to the CGC Cards Population Report, with only three of those examples graded CGC Pristine 10.

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

• a Charizard, Pokémon (1999) Base Set 1st Edition Holo graded CGC 4
• a Charizard, Bandai Carddass (1996) Pokémon – Part 1 – No. 006 Red Card – Prism Holo graded CGC Gem Mint 10
• a Pikachu, Bandai Carddass (1996) Pokémon – Part 1 – No. 025 Red Card graded CGC Gem Mint 10
• a Mewtwo, Pokémon (1999) Base Set 1st Edition Holo graded CGC Gem Mint 10
• a Gengar, Pokémon (1999) Fossil 1st Edition Holo graded CGC 9.5

Other sports cards in the upcoming May auctions include:

• a 2017 Topps Heritage Minor League #99 Fernando Tatis Jr. - Green Border graded CGC Gem Mint 10
• a 2020 Topps Chrome Formula 1 #135 Lewis Hamilton - Purple Refractor graded CGC 9
• a 1961 Topps #415 Hank Aaron graded CGC 5
• a 2020 Topps Tier One Autographs #T1A-CRJ Cal Ripken Jr. graded CGC Gem Mint 10, with an autograph graded CGC 10
• a 1997-98 Metal Universe #23 Michael Jordan graded CGC 8.5

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.