CGC just keeps winning! A Pokémon Illustrator graded CGC 9 has redrawn the contours of the TCG world after it realized $2.8 million in a September auction, setting a new record for the highest price realized by a CGC-certified example of the elusive card. In addition, this CGC-certified card was the highest-selling item in Goldin’s 2026 Summer Goldin 100 auction, which ended on September 19, 2026.
The Pokémon Illustrator, Pokémon (1998) Japanese CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest graded CGC 9 (lot 4) realized $2,806,271. The result eclipsed another Illustrator graded CGC 9.5 that sold for $1.7 million in June 2026 as well as a CGC Gem Mint 10 example that sold for $2.09 million in March, making it the highest-selling example of a Pokémon Illustrator card certified by CGC. Out of the 22 examples of Pokémon Illustrator recorded in the CGC Cards Population Report, only six are certified CGC 9, with only six additional examples graded higher.
“With the consistent record-breaking prices that CGC-certified cards have been realizing throughout 2026, it is becoming clearer to collectors that CGC’s services help them get the most out of their trading cards,” said Matt Quinn, Vice President of CGC Cards. “Collectors trust CGC to make sure their cards are authentic and properly graded, which is reflected in major sales such as this record-breaking Pokémon Illustrator.”
While Pokémon’s initial craze was at its peak in the late 1990s, Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comic announced an art contest geared toward children in its November 1997 issue. The contest was open to Japanese school-age children, who were to draw their own Pokémon cards and submit them to the magazine publisher for judging. In total, 39 winners were announced across two contests. Each winner received a Pokémon Illustrator card as their prize. Since then, another 20 unawarded examples of the trophy card have been discovered, bringing the grand total of known Pokémon Illustrator cards in the secondary market to a mere 59. The card’s rarity and provenance make it one of the holy grails of Pokémon TCG collecting.
About CGC
Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles, including trading card games (TCGs), sports cards, magazines, video games, and home media. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services. If you collect it, we will grade and protect it.
CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 110 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs, and stamps.