Should You Collect Gold Plated Pokémon Cards?

Gold plated Pokémon cards may look cool, but most have limited value compared to original cards in top condition. That said, a handful of rare gold plated cards in pristine grade can sell for big money to collectors.

When it comes to value, authenticity matters far more than gold plating. Let‘s take a deep dive on the history, worth, and future prospects of gold plated Pokémon cards for collectors.

A Brief History of Gold Plated Pokémon Cards

The first gold plated Pokémon cards were released in 1999 as part of a promotion with Burger King restaurants. The complete 57 card set featured popular gen 1 Pokémon and immediately became a hit with kids.

Burger King produced and distributed thousands of the gold plated card sets across their restaurants. While the exact production numbers are unknown, it was far greater than a regular Pokémon TCG print run. Still, the novelty of gold plated cards and the 1999 hype around Pokémon made them popular collectibles.

Other gold plated Pokémon cards have been produced since, but the 1999 Burger King set remains the most iconic.

Are Gold Plated Cards Worth Money?

The average sale price for gold plated Pokémon cards is around $25-30 in Near Mint condition. But there is huge variance based on rarity, condition and specific Pokémon:

Cards like 1st Edition Charizard in pristine PSA 10 grade can sell for over $200. But more common cards in played condition can go for under $5.

When evaluating gold plated Pokémon cards, condition is king. A ding, bend or scratch severely hurts value for collectors.

Should You Collect Gold Plated Cards?

For many collectors, myself included, the answer is no. While fun novelties, gold plated Pokémon cards fail the investment test for long-term value appreciation.

Authenticity and rarity trumps plating. That‘s why original holofoil cards from the 1st Edition Base Set remain far more sought after than their gold plated counterparts, even in worse condition:

When looking at long term holds, collectors want authentic cards printed by Pokémon, not 3rd party gold plated versions.

My advice? Focus your collecting on original holofoil cards in the best condition possible, preferably graded by PSA or BGS. Those will stand the test of time.

Spotting Fake Gold Plated Pokémon Cards

Since gold plated Pokémon cards have become collector‘s items, the market has been flooded with counterfeits trying to cash in. Here are some tips on spotting fake gold plated Pokémon cards:

• Weight – Authentic cards have a noticeable heft due to the metal. Fakes tend to be lighter.

• Texture – Fakes often have a smooth, plastic feel while real gold plated cards have a grittier, rougher metal texture.

• Image Sharpness – With fakes, the Pokémon image is often blurry or lacks fine details that are crisp on real cards.

• Text – Typos, misspellings, and blurry text are common giveaways of counterfeit cards.

My advice is to only buy graded gold plated Pokémon cards. PSA and BGS authentication gives you confidence in provenance. Raw cards carry risk.

Caring for Your Gold Plated Pokémon Cards

While gold plated Pokémon cards may not appreciate much in value, they can still make fun collectibles. If collecting for enjoyment, here are some tips on protecting your gold plated cards:

• Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture to prevent spots or corrosion.

• Sleeve cards in high quality penny or album sleeves to avoid scratches.

• Use rigid top loaders or card savers when displaying to prevent bending.

• Handle cards carefully by the edges and clean fingerprints with microfiber cloth.

• Consider getting valuables graded by PSA/BGS to preserve condition & prove authenticity.

While gold plated Pokémon have niche appeal, I hope this guide assists collectors in making wise investment decisions when it comes to these cards. Let me know if you have any other questions!