Alpha Prototype and Beta Playtest Pokémon Cards Being Offered in Goldin Sale

More than a dozen prototype and playtest Pokémon cards certified by CGC Cards™ are being offered in an ongoing Goldin sale, with most graded CGC Gem Mint 10 or CGC Pristine 10. These are just some of the CGC-certified cards being offered in Goldin’s 2024 August Elite Auction, which is set to end on September 2, 2024.

Some of the earliest concepts of the Pokémon TCG are being offered in this sale, including this Pidgey, Pokémon (1995) Japanese Alpha Prototype graded CGC Pristine 10 (lot 635). This Pidgey card uses the sprite design from the original Red and Green video games as concept art, showcases very basic energy symbols, lacks rarity symbols and has a very rudimentary card design, attesting to just how early in the Pokémon TCG’s history these prototype cards were made. Prototype cards such as this Pidgey were likely shown to executives as proof of concept of the Pokémon TCG before it entered development. It is wonderfully preserved, as made clear by the CGC Pristine 10 grade.

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Other (1995) Japanese Alpha Prototype Pokémon cards being offered in the auction include:

• a Machamp graded CGC Pristine 10 (lot 632)
• a Hypno graded CGC Pristine 10 (lot 633)
• an Ekans graded CGC Pristine 10 (lot 634)
• a Kadabra graded CGC Gem Mint 10 (lot 636)
• a Dratini graded CGC Gem Mint 10 (lot 637)
• an Exeggcute graded CGC Gem Mint 10 (lot 638)
• a Koffing graded CGC 9 (lot 639)

Also offered in the sale are several Beta Playtest Pokémon cards. These cards are more developed and refined than their Alpha Prototype counterparts, as seen with this Flareon, Pokémon (1996) Japanese Beta Playtest graded CGC Pristine 10 (lot 646). Instead of game sprites, this version of Flareon’s card features artwork by Ken Sugimori and is colored in. The Beta Playtest cards feature more refined attack and ability information, but still lack rarity symbols. These cards were given to playtesters a few months before the release of Base Set in Japan to test the mechanics of the game.

Click images to enlarge.

Other (1996) Japanese Beta Playtest Pokémon cards being offered in the auction include:

• an Exeggutor graded CGC Gem Mint 10 (lot 640)
• a Jolteon graded CGC 9.5 (lot 641)
• an Articuno graded CGC 9.5 (lot 642)
• an Eevee graded CGC 9 (lot 643)
• a Mewtwo graded CGC 9 (lot 644)
• a Vaporeon graded CGC 9 (lot 645)

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray and more.