Last updated: 9 October 2026. Bid amounts are as reported or as shown on Goldin's lot page on the dates stated; the auction is still open and the final price is not yet known.
In short: A PSA 8 copy of the 1997 Japanese Gold 1st Place Trophy Pikachu is the headline lot of Goldin's "2026 Pokémon 30th Anniversary" auction. Bids have risen quickly: on 9 October 2026 the lot stood at US$2,225,000, or US$2,714,500 with Goldin's 22% buyer's premium, after 29 bids. Bidding is scheduled to close on 26 October 2026 at 11:00 Japan time (the evening of 25 October in the US); if the card finishes above US$1,769,000, it would pass the current record for a Trophy Pikachu.
What is being auctioned
Goldin, the US auction house, is running a Pokémon sale tied to the franchise's 30th anniversary. Its headline lot is listed as a 1997 Pokémon Japanese Promo Gold 1st Place 1st Tournament #1 Trophy Pikachu, graded PSA NM-MT 8.
Trophy Pikachu cards were not sold in shops. They were handed to top finishers at Japan's earliest official Pokémon Card Game tournaments. This card is the first-place (gold) version, linked to the first official tournament held in Chiba, Japan, in June 1997.
Other lots named in coverage of the sale include a PSA 10 2000 Black Star Eevee League promo, a BGS Pristine 10 Skyridge Holo Gengar (#H9), a 2000 Black Star Holo Venusaur promo and a sealed 2005 EX Deoxys booster box.
Where the bidding stands
The figures below are bids, not sale prices. Goldin adds a 22% buyer's premium, and reports differ depending on whether they quote the bid alone or the bid plus premium.
| Date reported | Current bid | With 22% buyer's premium | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 2026 | US$975,000 | US$1,189,500 | Men's Journal / Yahoo Finance |
| 8 Oct 2026 | US$1,925,000 | US$2,348,500 | Star City Games |
| 9 Oct 2026 | US$2,225,000 | US$2,714,500 | Goldin lot page (29 bids) |
Goldin's lot page lists the close as Monday 26 October 2026, 11:00 a.m. Japan time (GMT+9), which is the evening of Sunday 25 October in the US. The sale uses 30-minute extended bidding intervals, so the lot can stay open past that time while bids keep arriving. Check the live lot page for the latest figure.
How this compares with past Trophy Pikachu sales
- Bronze 3rd Place Trophy Pikachu (1998, 3rd Tournament), PSA 10: US$1,769,000 at Goldin in May 2026. This is the highest confirmed sale for any Trophy Pikachu so far.
- Gold 1st Place Trophy Pikachu, PSA 8: US$982,100 at Goldin in March 2026.
If the current lot closes above US$1,769,000 including premium, it would become the most expensive Trophy Pikachu sold at public auction. At the bid shown on 9 October it is already well above that level, but bidding can still change and nothing is final until the auction closes. We will treat it as a sale only once Goldin publishes the result.
Why Japanese tournament prizes are so scarce
The Pokémon Trading Card Game launched in Japan in October 1996, so this month marks 30 years since the first Japanese booster packs. In 1997 and 1998, the official tournaments that followed awarded a small number of special Pikachu cards to the top three players: gold for first, silver for second and bronze for third.
Three things make them rare today:
- Tiny print runs. Only finalists received them, so each version exists in very small numbers.
- Nearly 30 years of handling. Cards that were kept, played with or stored loosely since 1997–98 rarely survive in high grade. Copies graded PSA 8 or above are the exception.
- Several series with similar names. There were trophy cards from more than one tournament series in 1997–98. Lot titles specify the tournament, place and year, and these details matter for value. Reported population counts also vary between sources, so always check the card's certificate on the grading company's site.
What overseas collectors should check before bidding on a Japanese prize card
- The exact card title. Match the tournament, placement and year on the grading label, not only the word "Trophy".
- The certificate number. Look it up on the PSA, BGS or CGC website and compare the images with the lot photos.
- The real total cost. Add the buyer's premium, shipping, insurance and any import duty or tax in your country.
- Sold prices, not asking prices. Use completed auction results as your reference. Marketplace listings often sit far above what cards actually sell for.
- Your ceiling. Set a maximum before the final day. Prices for these cards have moved in large steps, in both directions, and past results do not predict future ones.
Frequently asked questions
Has the Gold Trophy Pikachu already sold for over US$2 million?
No. On 9 October 2026 the current bid was US$2,225,000, or US$2,714,500 with Goldin's 22% buyer's premium, after 29 bids. The auction is still open until 26 October (Japan time), so the final price is not yet known.
What is the record for a Trophy Pikachu?
The highest confirmed public sale is US$1,769,000 for a PSA 10 1998 Bronze 3rd Place (3rd Tournament) Trophy Pikachu at Goldin in May 2026. The overall record for any Pokémon card is the PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator, which sold for US$16,492,000 at Goldin in February 2026.
Are Trophy Pikachu cards ever found in Japan?
Very rarely. Some prize cards stayed with the original winners and their families, and they surface occasionally through Japanese dealers, auctions and private networks, often ungraded.
How can I look for rare Japanese prize cards from overseas?
For cards at this level, a private search in Japan is usually the practical route. Our private sourcing service searches Japanese dealers, auctions and private networks and confirms each candidate before proposing it, and Buy & Grade can arrange PSA grading for raw cards. You can also request a confidential consultation.
Prices mentioned are reported bids or confirmed public sale results on the dates stated, shown for reference only. Prices move and can fall; they do not indicate future value. Tokyo Card Concierge is not affiliated with Goldin, PSA or The Pokémon Company. Tokyo Card Concierge is operated by Spacial Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.