Are Trading Cards Worth Money?

Are trading cards worth money? It’s a big question since there are so many different kinds of trading cards and different factors to consider. You may have heard of some sports cards selling for high six figures, or the 1st edition Charizard that rapper Icon purchased, but what about the cards in your home? Well, there’s a chance you’re sitting on a gold mine.

Why Trading Cards Can Get Expensive

The price of a collectible comes down to how sought after it is by collectors.

Collectors are individuals who have a strong interest in acquiring and organizing specific items related to their favorite things or hobbies. The behaviors of collectors can vary greatly depending on the individual, but when the subject is trading cards, it often comes down to nostalgia (Pokémon, Digimon) or a hobby (sports).

Supply and demand

Supply and demand are fundamental concepts in the trading card market. Demand refers to the desire or interest of collectors to acquire specific cards, driven by factors like rarity, condition, and player popularity. Supply is the number of cards available in the market, influenced by factors like production runs, reprints, and circulation. 

The interplay between supply and demand determines card prices: when demand is high and supply is low, prices increase; conversely, when demand is low and supply is high, prices decrease. Collectors and investors capitalize on these fluctuations to buy low and sell high, making trading cards an active and dynamic market.

What Makes Trading Cards Expensive?

Some trading cards hold immense value due to their extreme rarity, often resulting from limited production or distribution.

Rookie cards 

Rookie cards of famous sports players are prime examples of such rare collectibles. These cards, issued when players first enter the professional leagues, are highly sought after as they capture the athletes’ early careers. 

Rarity and the players’ subsequent achievements and popularity can make certain rookie cards exceedingly valuable. For instance, the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card and the 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card have both fetched six-figure sums at auctions. 

1st Edition

Many trading cards, such as Pokémon cards, have a 1st edition variant. These are usually denoted by a stamp or text reading “1ST EDITION” and indicate that the card was part of the limited 1st edition print run for that card’s expansion or set.

1st edition cards are sometimes very rare or not, depending on the card game. 1st edition cards are famously expensive when it comes to Pokémon, but don’t make much of a difference for Digimon cards, for example.

Collectors and investors vie for these rare gems, driving up their prices and further solidifying their status as prized possessions in the trading card world.

Which Trading Cards Are Worth The Most?

Sports

Generally speaking, sports cards sell for the highest amount of money.

For example, the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner: Considered the “holy grail” of baseball cards, it features the legendary shortstop Honus Wagner. With only around 50-200 copies in existence, one in mint condition sold for over $3 million.

Pokémon

But Pokémon cards can sell for a lot of money too. 

Recently, YouTuber Logan Paul purchased a Pikachu Illustrator card for over $4 million. But other Pokémon cards sell for a lot too, like the 1st edition Base Set Charizard.

Magic: The Gathering

MTG makes the list because of its original expansion set: Alpha. All of the cards included in Alpha are extremely valuable today, but none are worth more than the famous Black Lotus. 

One recently sold in 2021 for $511,000. However, outside of the old cards, Magic doesn’t see many cards over the $1,000 range.

Which Trading Cards Are The Best To Buy?

The best kind of cards to buy is a personal question and will be different for everyone. If you’re only interested in making some money or flipping cards as a side hustle, sports cards are probably the way to go.

But if you want to get into some cards and create a hobby out of it, you have quite a few options.

For playing competitively

Sports cards are a lot of fun, but there’s no game to play, they’re just for collecting. If you want to get into the casual or competitive scene, check out your local card shops or hobby stores to see what kinds of events they host. 

Some great options are Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Universus, Digimon, Meta Zoo, and Dragon Ball.

Conclusion

The average card you’ll find laying around is probably not worth more than $1 at most, but any cards you have from 20+ years ago might be worth a lot. 

The big ones are sports cards, Pokémon, and Magic: The Gathering. But there are many more with cards that are worth 4 or 5 figures. Check eBay sold listings if you want to see what your cards are selling for!