Articuno (Japanese)
SM9: Tag Bolt · 030/095 · Rare
Current Prices
Set
SM9: Tag BoltNumber
030/095
Rarity
Rare
Variant
Holofoil
Market
US (TCGplayer)
Last Updated
Jun 9, 2026
Articuno (Japanese): Rarity & Collectibility
Articuno (Japanese) in its sought-after Holofoil variant is a genuine Rare that print runs hold back, so collectors have to hunt for clean copies. Cataloged as Rare #030/095 of the SM9: Tag Bolt set, it is the kind of card RarePokemonCard tracks for scarcity and collector demand rather than raw price alone. The harder a card is to pull in top condition, the more weight serious collectors place on it.
How Rare & Valuable Is Articuno (Japanese)?
In 2026, a Near Mint Articuno (Japanese) (Rare, SM9: Tag Bolt #030/095) changes hands at roughly $1.43, and desirability among set-builders keeps that number firm. Because demand concentrates on clean copies, surface wear is punished hard: a Near Mint example commands about $1.43, whereas a Lightly Played one slides to around $1.50. At the very top, a gem-mint PSA 10 Articuno (Japanese) is valued near $20.50 — about 14x the raw copy, the clearest sign of how much collectors pay for flawless scarcity.
Graded Articuno (Japanese): Gem Mint & Population
Even for a card at this rarity, the top of the market belongs to certified gem-mint copies. A PSA 10 (or CGC 10 / BGS Black Label equivalent) Articuno (Japanese) sits around $20.50 — roughly 14x a raw copy. That gap exists because relatively few examples ever earn a perfect grade, so gem-mint population is the real scarcity collectors chase. Step down a notch and demand spreads across PSA 9 $8.50, CGC 10 $19.99, CGC 9.5 $5.00 — each tier a smaller, scarcer pool than the one below it. The rule of thumb for collectors: the rarer the card, the more a certified high grade matters to its standing.
Detailed Price Breakdown
| Source | Condition / Grade | Average | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ebay | LIGHTLY PLAYED | $1.50 | $1.50 | $1.50 | 1 |
| ebay | NEAR MINT | $1.99 | $1.99 | $1.99 | 10 |
| ebay | CGC 10 | $19.99 | $19.99 | $19.99 | 5 |
| ebay | CGC 9 5 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | 1 |
| ebay | PSA 10 | $20.50 | $20.50 | $20.50 | 31 |
| ebay | PSA 9 | $8.50 | $8.50 | $8.50 | 3 |
| tcgplayer | NEAR MINT | $1.43 | $1.43 | $1.43 | 26 |
Collector Outlook for Articuno (Japanese)
Articuno (Japanese) holds steady chase appeal: a Rare that completists actively track down in top condition. Collect it for completeness and the joy of the hunt; its appeal is the set, not the ceiling. Whether you are chasing it for a set or as a centerpiece, revisit Articuno (Japanese) on RarePokemonCard — rarity demand in 2026 shifts with reprints, set nostalgia, and how few high-grade copies surface.
