Gold Star Alakazam PSA 10 sale sets $31,720 mark

2006 Pokémon EX Crystal Guardians Gold Star Alakazam #99 (Holo) just turned in a notable performance at auction, closing at $31,720 on Goldin on 2026-04-20. Graded PSA GEM MT 10 and MBA Silver Diamond Certified, this is one of the highest-end examples of one of the hobby’s most important Gold Star cards.

In this breakdown, we’ll walk through what this card is, why collectors care, and how this sale fits into the current market context.

Card overview

Character: Alakazam (Pokémon TCG)
Year: 2006
Set: EX Crystal Guardians
Card number: #99
Parallel/variant: Gold Star Holo (shiny Alakazam)
Rookie/key issue: Key chase card from the EX-era Gold Star run
Grading company: PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)
Grade: GEM MT 10
Additional certification: MBA Silver Diamond Certified (third‑party review of the graded card and case)

Gold Star cards in the mid‑2000s EX era feature shiny versions of popular Pokémon with a distinctive gold “★” next to the name. They were inserted at very low rates, making them some of the toughest mainstream chase cards of the era.

Alakazam from EX Crystal Guardians sits in that group of late‑EX Gold Stars that combine low print runs, challenging condition sensitivity, and a strong nostalgic pull for collectors who grew up in the mid‑2000s.

Why EX Crystal Guardians Gold Star Alakazam matters

1. Part of the EX-era Gold Star lineage

Gold Stars from the EX series (2004–2007) are broadly viewed as one of the cornerstone chase runs in Pokémon collecting.

Key reasons collectors care:

Pack odds: Gold Stars were extremely rare pulls, widely understood to be among the toughest chase cards you could hit from mass‑release sets at the time.
Era identity: The EX era bridges early WotC nostalgia and modern design. For many, this is the era they opened as kids, so demand now is driven by returning collectors with more disposable income.
Shiny focus: Shiny Pokémon, especially on‑set art rather than special promos, have become a long-term theme in the hobby.

Alakazam might not be as headline‑grabbing as Gold Star Charizard, Rayquaza, or the Eeveelutions, but it sits securely in that high‑importance tier of EX‑era chase cards.

2. A difficult PSA 10

While exact population report numbers (often shortened to “pop report”) can fluctuate as more cards are graded or reholdered, Gold Stars in PSA 10 are consistently scarce:

Low original print runs plus
Harsh handling and chipping on EX-era foiling and borders

mean very few copies survive in truly gem mint condition.

PSA GEM MT 10 is PSA’s highest standard grade for pack‑issued cards. It indicates a card that is essentially flawless to the naked eye: sharp corners, clean edges, strong centering, and no print defects visible without magnification.

Layering on MBA Silver Diamond Certification signals that the card and the PSA slab have been independently reviewed and verified for authenticity and condition. That added assurance can matter at the high end, especially on cards where counterfeits, re-seals, or tampered slabs are a concern.

Market context for this sale

Auction house: Goldin
Sale date (UTC): 2026-04-20
Final price: $31,720

To understand where this result sits, it helps to zoom out and look at three pieces of context:

Comps (recent comparable sales)
Grade and population dynamics
Where Alakazam sits within the Gold Star hierarchy

1. Recent comps and price range

Based on available public data and known trends for EX-era Gold Stars, the pattern for Gold Star Alakazam looks roughly like this:

Lower grades (PSA 7–8): Often trade at a substantial discount as more “entry‑level” options for collectors who want the card but do not need gem condition.
Strong mid‑grades (PSA 9): Typically command a noticeable premium over 7–8s as “collector grade,” where eye appeal is strong but the price is still more accessible.
Top grade (PSA 10): Sees the largest spread between individual sales, as small differences in timing, buyers, and presentation (auction house, certification like MBA, marketing) can have an outsized impact.

Within that framework, a $31,720 result for a PSA 10 Gold Star Alakazam can be characterized as:

Consistent with the idea that true top‑tier EX-era Gold Stars in gem mint condition remain firmly in high‑end territory.
In line with a broader pattern where second‑tier characters (relative to Charizard or Rayquaza) have settled into strong but more stable price levels, with less volatility than the absolute headliners.

Because not every PSA 10 copy trades frequently and some sales may be private, it’s normal for there to be a limited number of directly comparable public auction results. That makes each confirmed high‑end sale a useful reference point for collectors trying to understand current value.

2. Grade scarcity and population effects

For EX-era Gold Stars generally, a few consistent patterns show up in pop reports:

Total graded population remains low compared with mass‑printed modern era chase cards.
PSA 10s often represent only a small fraction of total graded copies, especially for cards with dark borders or heavy holo foil that show wear.

While exact numbers for this specific card can change over time as more are submitted or cracked and regraded, the overall story is stable: PSA 10 Gold Star Alakazam is a legitimately tough card. That scarcity in the top grade helps explain why each gem mint copy that comes to auction can attract strong bidding.

3. Within the Gold Star ecosystem

When you place Alakazam next to the broader Gold Star roster, a rough internal ranking often looks something like this:

Tier 1: Charizard, Rayquaza, select Eeveelutions, Mew, and a few others that drive headline numbers.
Tier 2: Key legendaries and fan‑favorite species that consistently show strong, stable demand.
Tier 3: More niche or less frequently discussed species, still very collectible but usually at more accessible price points.

Alakazam typically falls into that Tier 2 category: a long‑standing Gen 1 favorite with strong nostalgia, but not the single most chased character in the Gold Star run. Prices at this tier tend to be:

High enough to confirm the card’s status as a serious chase piece.
More stable over time than the absolute top characters, which can be more volatile during hype cycles.

The $31,720 result on 2026-04-20 fits that profile: an important sale, but not attempting to redefine the entire Gold Star market.

Factors that likely contributed to this result

Several grounded factors can reasonably help explain the outcome of this auction:

PSA 10 top grade
For condition‑sensitive EX-era holos, PSA 10 drives a major premium over PSA 9 and below. Collectors focused on long‑term holdings often target the highest grade they can afford.
MBA Silver Diamond Certification
Additional third‑party verification can be a plus for some high‑end buyers, especially as the market has grown more cautious about altered cards and tampered slabs. While not universally priced in, it can improve confidence at higher price points.
Goldin as the venue
High‑end auction houses like Goldin tend to:
- Bring more visibility to marquee pieces.
- Aggregate serious bidders.
- Provide marketing and presentation that can help strong cards perform closer to their potential.
Steady demand for EX-era nostalgia
The cohort that was opening EX packs in the mid‑2000s is now firmly in their adult earning years. That has kept demand surprisingly resilient for key EX-era cards, even during broader market cooling phases.
Relative stability in Alakazam’s character profile
Unlike modern‑era “hype cycle” cards that can spike or crash around new releases or competitive formats, Alakazam’s appeal is rooted in:
- Long‑standing Gen 1 nostalgia.
- Recognition from the earliest days of Pokémon.
That usually supports more measured, data‑driven bidding rather than speculative swings.

What this means for collectors

For different types of collectors and small sellers, here’s how this sale might be useful:

If you own a Gold Star Alakazam

Use this as a top‑end reference point.
A $31,720 PSA 10 result on 2026-04-20 at Goldin confirms that clean, authenticated gem copies remain firmly in the high‑end segment.
Adjust expectations by grade.
Values for PSA 9, PSA 8, BGS 9.5, CGC 9, raw, etc., will scale down substantially from this number. This sale is best understood as a data point for the ceiling of the card in a premier venue.
Condition and presentation still matter.
Even within the same grade, strong eye appeal, clean cases, and clear photos tend to help cards perform closer to their potential.

If you’re considering buying into EX-era Gold Stars

Recognize the spread between characters.
Alakazam’s price tier is below the very top Gold Stars, but still commands a strong premium relative to many other EX-era cards.
Be aware of grade scarcity.
PSA 10s are rare and will likely continue carrying a large premium over lower grades. For some collectors, a sharp 8 or 9 can offer a more comfortable entry point while still delivering most of the visual appeal.
Use multiple comps when possible.
One high‑end auction result is helpful, but it’s best understood alongside:
- Recent fixed‑price sales.
- Auction results across different houses.
- Private deal anecdotes from trusted sources.

For small sellers and hobbyists

Consider where to consign top‑tier items.
Cards at this level often perform best when listed with established auction houses like Goldin that already have active high‑end bidder bases.
Document condition clearly.
High‑resolution scans, slab condition notes, and clear references to pop reports and certifications (PSA, MBA, etc.) can help buyers feel more confident in your listings.

Key takeaways

The 2006 Pokémon EX Crystal Guardians Gold Star Holo Alakazam #99 in PSA GEM MT 10 with MBA Silver Diamond Certification realized $31,720 at Goldin on 2026-04-20.
The result reinforces Alakazam’s position as a serious, mid‑2000s EX-era chase card, especially in the top PSA grade.
For collectors, this sale is best viewed as a high‑end benchmark rather than a prediction, providing another data point in the evolving story of EX-era Gold Stars.

As always, it’s wise to treat any single sale as one part of a larger picture. Following multiple auctions, reviewing pop data, and aligning purchases with your own collecting goals will usually serve you better than chasing any one headline price.

If you’re tracking EX Crystal Guardians or other Gold Star cards, keeping a simple log of notable public sales (date, auction house, grade, and price) can help you build your own, grounded view of the market over time.

For this card, the latest entry in that log now reads:

2006 Pokémon EX Crystal Guardians Gold Star Holo #99 Alakazam – PSA GEM MT 10 – MBA Silver Diamond Certified – Goldin – 2026-04-20 – $31,720.