One-of-One Gold Star Rayquaza Becomes First English Pokémon Card to Sell for $1 Million USD

A 2005 Pokémon EX Deoxys Holo Rayquaza Gold Star card, identified by its serial number #107, has achieved a groundbreaking sale, becoming the first English-language Pokémon card to surpass the $1 million USD threshold. The card commanded a final price of $1,020,000 USD, inclusive of the buyer's premium, following its appearance in Fanatics Collect's August Premier Auction. This monumental sale was primarily propelled by the card's unparalleled condition, as it stands as the sole known copy to have earned a CGC Pristine 10 grade. Fanatics Collect, a prominent auction house in the collectibles market, emphasized this particular card's exceptional status, dubbing it "potentially the single greatest copy" of the Gold Star Rayquaza and noting the absence of any Pristine 10 examples within the registries of other major grading services like Beckett Grading Services (BGS) and Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) – though the source text mentions TAG, it's likely a typo for PSA or another major grader. The extreme rarity of this Pristine 10 grade is largely attributed to inherent manufacturing challenges associated with the EX Deoxys set. CGC has frequently cited factory edge wear as a common issue affecting cards from this particular expansion. Their assessment data reveals that out of more than 250 copies of this Gold Star Rayquaza that CGC has evaluated, a mere 12 have achieved a Gem Mint 10 status, with only this single specimen reaching the even more exclusive Pristine 10 tier. The financial implications of this half-grade difference are starkly evident at the apex of the collectibles market. To illustrate, a Gem Mint 10 version of the identical Gold Star Rayquaza card previously transacted for $168,000 USD on July 19, 2023. This comparison highlights that the Pristine 10 copy secured a value more than six times greater in less than a month. The auction itself witnessed intense bidding activity, with 35 distinct offers contributing to the final price that propelled the card well into seven figures. The Gold Star Rayquaza, in general, has long been revered as a highly sought-after "grail" item among dedicated Pokémon card collectors, representing a pinnacle of desirability. This record-breaking sale also significantly reshapes the established hierarchy of English-language Pokémon card sales. The $1,020,000 USD result surpasses the prior English-language record by a notable margin of $65,200 USD. That previous benchmark was held by a PSA Gem Mint 10 First Edition Base Set Charizard card. This Charizard card achieved its $954,800 USD sale price in February 2023, following a widely publicized and high-stakes box break event orchestrated by influencer Logan Paul and auctioneer Ken Goldin. While this recent sale establishes a new zenith for English-language Pokémon cards, it is important to note that the overall highest price ever achieved for any Pokémon card remains considerably higher, a record previously set by a different, undisclosed transaction also involving Logan Paul.