Old Pokémon cards can go for a lot of money, but sometimes, something else causes a huge spike in prices, causing plenty of people to sell away those dusty old binders in the hopes of a quick chunk of cash. That's happening right now with some oft-forgotten fossils, and I mean the word literally: some common Pokémon Fossil cards are upwards of 842% pricier in the last 30 days, and the bizarre reign of Kabuto King appears to be the main reason why.
While we prefer the best Pokémon cards to have either gorgeous artwork or great performance in competitive play, sometimes pure nostalgia can help us see these older singles with (Chairman) Rose-tinted glasses. (Oh, wait, he's a bad guy, so that means we'd like them less, scratch that).
Other times, their age can help simply because they're no longer printed and have become scarce and, while the 1st Edition Holofoils typically reign supreme, other 'mons from the Pokémon TCG Fossil packs are finally getting the spotlight.
The fossil craze appears to stem from one collector buying up over 1,700 copies of Kabuto #50 1st Edition cards, which we recently detailed in our tale of the Kabuto King. But it's since snowballed into Omanyte seeing a similar surge north of 600%. And now, well, a bunch of Fossil's other classic hits have seen a spike, too.
According to TCGMarketNews, a website that compiles price changes for various TCGs, including our beloved Pokémon, Kabuto #50 (but the Unlimited version, not the highly sought after 1st Edition) has seen an 842% price increase in 30 days. The difference is substantial, but the cost isn't - it's gone from about $0.40 to $3.58. Similarly, Horsea #49 has gone up 330% in the same period, which means you'll have to shell out $3.76 instead of the previous $0.86.
Those aren't the only victims of the recent percentage increases in the three-digit range. Psyduck #53, Slowpoke #55, Shellder #54, and Krabby #51 have all become moderately more expensive than they were over a month ago, with Psyduck leading this group with a 243% increase. Considering these cards sat for years at nickel and dime prices, it's bizarre seeing how much they go for now, with TCGMarketNews taking data from TCGPlayer and Ebay to highlight the average sales.
Why is this happening? Well, it's likely the effect of Kabuto King's sudden popularity and the strange mission they're currently on. It seems other people are attempting to buy up many of Fossil's forgotten singles in the hopes of a similar price surge, but that doesn't seem to have gone spectacularly well so far.
These classic cards' price rises may be striking, percentage-wise, but they don't bring them even close to Fossil's priciest entries (let alone the most expensive Pokémon cards overall). Within the Fossil set, cards like Gengar #5 Holofoil 1st Edition still hold the throne, with an average price of $403.60, and individual packs will set you back at least $200, more if you go for 1st Edition boosters.
If you want to add some Fossil cards to your collection, your best bet is to find listings of singles on the secondary market with the likes of TCGPlayer. However, I recommend not treating this hobby like the stock market - just buy these gorgeous classic cards for the collection, and enjoy them as a relic of a bygone era. These cards are older than me, so they deserve respect. More than I do, actually.
Whether you're collecting up all of the Fossil cards you can or if you're simply keen to talk with other trainers, make sure to join our Wargamer Discord to be kept in the loop on everything that the Pokémon TCG offers. That includes bizarre price surges, new sets, and potential discounts - well, whenever they might pop up.