Rare Pokémon Phone Card Sells for $2.25 Million in TCG Sales

Pokémon Tops the Latest TCG Sales Rankings

Pokémon once again controlled the high end of the trading card market, with the five biggest TCG-related sales from October 17-24, 2026 combining for $5,353,000, according to Card Ladder. That total marked a sharp increase from last week’s $3.98 million and was driven by a mix of classic chase cards, competition-issued Pikachu artwork, and two rare Japanese telephone cards that are not traditional trading cards.

The week’s results showed just how broad Pokémon collecting has become at the top end. While a 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard and a gem-mint Legendary Collection Charizard both made the list, the biggest sale belonged to a 1997 Japanese CoroCoro phone card that sold for more than $2.25 million.

No. 5: 1997 Pokémon Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Phone Card Misty & Pokémon CGC 9

One of the more unusual entries in the countdown was a 1997 Japanese Pokémon telephone card featuring Misty and Pokémon characters. Graded CGC 9, the card sold for $482,000 through Fanatics Buy Now on October 23.

These collectible phone cards were promotional items rather than standard Pokémon trading cards, which makes them stand out in a market that is usually dominated by familiar TCG releases. Their rarity and connection to Pokémon’s early popularity in Japan have helped push them into the high-end collecting conversation.

The card also reinforced a larger theme from the week. As unusual as it may seem compared with a normal booster pull or base set chase card, it was not the only telephone card to draw major attention.

No. 4: 2002 Pokémon Legendary Collection Reverse Holo Charizard #3 PSA 10

Charizard appeared again in the rankings with a 2002 Pokémon Legendary Collection Reverse Holo Charizard #3, graded PSA 10, which sold for $576,000 through Fanatics Weekly on October 18.

The Legendary Collection is known for its reverse holographic design, a look that separates it from more traditional holo cards. That visual difference has helped the set maintain a strong following among collectors, especially when the subject is Charizard in gem-mint condition.

The sale followed a major result from the previous week, when a 19-card Legendary Collection holo lot, all graded PSA 10, sold for $960,000. This week’s single-card result showed that demand remains strong for top-condition examples from the release.

No. 3: 2015 Pokémon XY Art Academy Competition Lily-Chan Pikachu #25 PSA 10

The Art Academy Pikachu continued its run near the top of the market with another major sale. A 2015 Pokémon XY Art Academy Competition Lily-Chan Pikachu #25, graded PSA 10, brought $660,000 through Fanatics Weekly on October 18.

These cards originated from a Pokémon-themed art competition, giving them a different appeal than standard set cards. The artwork and the unusual origin story have made the Art Academy Pikachu one of the most closely watched modern Pokémon collectibles.

Last week’s top sale was another Art Academy Pikachu, this one featuring artwork by Y. Fujishima, which sold for $1,037,000 through Goldin. The back-to-back appearances of the card type at the top of the market point to sustained demand for Pokémon items with distinctive artwork and limited availability.

No. 2: 1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Shadowless Holo Charizard #4 PSA 10

One of the most recognizable cards in the hobby returned to seven figures this week. A 1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Shadowless Holo Charizard #4, graded PSA 10, sold for $1,380,000 through Fanatics Premier on October 23.

The original English-language Base Set Charizard remains one of the defining cards in Pokémon collecting, and the combination of 1st Edition, Shadowless status, and gem-mint grade continues to make it one of the most desirable cards in the market.

Even with attention shifting toward rarer promotional pieces and unusual Japanese issues, the sale showed that the classic Charizard still commands extraordinary prices when it reaches the highest grade.

No. 1: 1997 Pokémon Japanese CoroCoro Phone Card 2 Million Copies Gift Pocket Monsters PSA 10

The week’s biggest sale was not a traditional Pokémon trading card. A 1997 Japanese CoroCoro telephone card marking the magazine’s two-million-copy milestone, graded PSA 10, sold for $2,255,000 through Fanatics Buy Now on October 23.

The card dates to Pokémon’s early years in Japan, when the franchise was still building the momentum that would eventually turn it into a global phenomenon. Its unusual format and historical connection to that period set it apart from the cards that usually dominate weekly sales rankings.

With a sale price more than $2.25 million, the CoroCoro phone card became the clear leader for the week and underscored how far beyond standard trading cards the high-end Pokémon market can extend.

Telephone Cards Made a Major Impact

The two Japanese telephone cards combined for $2,737,000, accounting for more than half of the week’s total among the five biggest TCG-related transactions. That result is notable because these items are not the type of cards most collectors first think of when discussing Pokémon, yet they continue to attract serious attention when rare examples surface in top condition.

The week’s rankings also highlighted the range of Pokémon collectibles that can reach elite prices. From early promotional pieces to a gem-mint Base Set Charizard and a competition-issued Pikachu, the sales list covered several corners of the hobby.

For collectors following the upper tier of the Pokémon market, the latest results show that demand remains strong across both the most iconic cards and the more unusual promotional items tied to the franchise’s early history.