BGS and PSA Graded TCG Help Push Premiums on Magic and Pokémon Cards

2003 Pokémon-e Skyridge #H9 Gengar HOLO R

During the current TCG hobby explosion, just about anything Pokémon is a desired commodity – this holds double, triple, and/or quadruple true for vintage cardboard. Further emphasizing the point, a Wizards of the Coast (WotC) 2003 Pokémon Skyridge #H9 Gengar HOLO graded PSA 1 sold for $2,000 during an August 9 eBay auction.

On the premium high end, the same example graded as a BGS 9 sold for $7,800 during a Fanatics Weekly auction on August 9.

*Buy 2003 Pokémon-e Skyridge #H9 Gengar HOLO cards on TCGPlayer or eBay

2001 Pokémon TCG Darkness, and to Light Japanese #006 Shining Charizard HOLO UR

Sticking with the vintage-era Pokémon, the fourth expansion set released from the Neo block was Darkness, and to Light. Cards from the 2001 Neo set have been market movers in 2026, with new all-time premiums realized.

During an Alt auction on July 9, a PSA Gem Mint 2001 Pokémon TCG Darkness, and to Light Japanese #248 Shining Tyranitar HOLO was purchased for $39,936.

Two Gem Mint heavy hitters were auctioned off before the July sale of the Japanese #248 Shining Tyranitar HOLO:

• 2001 Pokémon TCG Darkness, and to Light Japanese #150 Shining Mewtwo HOLO UR
• 2001 Pokémon TCG Darkness, and to Light Japanese #006 Shining Charizard HOLO UR

The Japanese #150 Shining Mewtwo HOLO UR was added to a collection for a jaw dropping $66,000 on May 31 during a Fanatics Weekly event.

The attention getting result was $117,600 realized on a Japanese #006 Shining Charizard HOLO UR during an Alt auction on April 23.

*Buy Japanese #006 Shining Charizard HOLO UR cards on TCGPlayer or eBay

1993 Magic: The Gathering Arabian Nights #NNO Juzam Djinn U

Demand for vintage Magic: The Gathering cards is so high that the premiums between graded and raw copies are seeing little differences – collectors simply want the cards regardless of condition.

Using the ever-menacing 1993 Magic: The Gathering Arabian Nights #NNO Juzam Djinn U as our case study, the Uncommon from the Arabian Nights release has transacted four times publicly thus far in August, each occurring on eBay. At first reading, four traded copies may not trigger a surprise response, but Wizards of the Coast only released 31,000 Juzam Djinn U examples, and we are talking about a card released 33 years ago.

• August 2 – $1,900 – raw
• August 9 – $1,710 – raw
• August 11 – $1,700 – raw

The raw Juzam Djinn U examples in August outsold a July 5 CGC 5 EX, which sold for $1,350 during a Fanatics Weekly auction.

The highest transaction of the month so far was a BGS 8.5, which was realized for $2,134 on August 3 during an eBay auction. Helping command a stronger premium, the card was signed by illustrator Mark Tedin.

*Buy Arabian Nights #NNO Juzam Djinn U cards on TCGPlayer or eBay

1999 Magic: The Gathering Urza’s Legacy Foil #126 Grim Monolith R

Another example of collector demand, we turn to the 1993 Urza’s Legacy set. WotC released eight versions of the card, with each variant based on language.

Twenty or more raw examples of #126 Grim Monolith can be found on eBay for sale. Asking prices range from $112 to over $500.

On May 15, a raw copy sold on eBay for $445 as a direct purchase. On June 5, during a PSA auction on eBay, a graded 5 sold for $2,099.

Showing the swings of the market with the right seller finding the buyer, on March 18 a raw copy was realized for $3,187 as a direct purchase on eBay.

The last BGS 9 copy to sell on a public platform was on July 22, 2024… During that eBay auction, the #126 Grim Monolith was purchased for $2,550. The last publicly traded #126 Grim Monolith that was graded took place on June 25, a PSA 5 for $2,099.

Condition sensitivity is an issue with older MTG cards. BGS has awarded only 10 Gem Mint grades for #126 Grim Monolith cards, with zero Pristine or Black Label grades. The pictured BGS Mint is unique in that it is one of only 48 in circulation.

*Buy Foil #126 Grim Monolith R cards on TCGPlayer or eBay

2026 Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes #0386 The Mind Stone BORDERLESS FOIL M

Seller beware at auction! What it sells for is what it sells for.

From MTG’s 2026 Marvel Super Heroes set, the chase has been on for #0386 The Mind Stone. Released on June 26, collectors have seen a trickle of graded copies hit the secondary market. When offered, four-figure sums are collected – but how much greatly depends on the day and which sellers are watching different auctions.

On July 25, a buyer scored a PSA Gem Mint for $7,100; the highest premium recorded thus far for a #0386 The Mind Stone. Jump a few days ahead, on August 4, and a buyer received a perceived discount, securing another PSA 10 for $3,900. The following day, yet another PSA 10 The Mind Stone was sold, this time for $6,000.

Worth noting, each of the three Gem Mint slabs was auctioned off by PSA via eBay.

*Buy Marvel Super Heroes #0386 The Mind Stone cards on TCGPlayer or eBay