Magic: The Gathering is the original collectible card game and the source of some of the highest single-card prices in the hobby. Here is the ranked list.
1. Alpha Black Lotus (BGS 9.5+)
The single most valuable Magic card. The 1993 Alpha printing of Black Lotus in BGS 9.5 sold for over $3 million in 2023. CGC 10 Pristine examples are essentially museum-tier.
2. One Ring (Lord of the Rings, 2023, 1-of-1 Foil)
The serialised 1-of-1 foil pulled from a Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth booster pack. Acquired by post Malone for a reported $2.6 million.
3. Beta Black Lotus (BGS 10)
Beta printings have a slightly different border and slightly larger printing. BGS 10 Black Lotus Beta has sold for $500,000-$800,000.
4. Power Nine (Alpha Set, BGS 9.5+)
Includes Mox Pearl, Mox Sapphire, Mox Jet, Mox Ruby, Mox Emerald, Time Walk, Timetwister, Ancestral Recall, and Black Lotus. A complete set of Alpha Power Nine in BGS 9.5+ exceeds $1.5 million.
5. Underground Sea (Alpha)
The most valuable dual land. Alpha Underground Sea in BGS 9.5 sells for $40,000-$80,000.
6. Volcanic Island (Beta — not in Alpha)
Volcanic Island was missed from Alpha and only printed from Beta onwards, making Beta the earliest. BGS 9.5 examples reach $20,000-$40,000.
7. Tropical Island (Alpha)
Alpha Tropical Island in BGS 9.5 has sold for $25,000-$50,000.
8. Tundra (Alpha)
Another Alpha dual land. BGS 9.5 examples are $20,000-$45,000.
9. Original Test Print Sheets (1993)
Early prototype sheets from Wizards of the Coast’s pre-launch testing. Authentic test print sheets sell for $80,000-$200,000.
10. Foil Mox Diamond (Stronghold, 1998)
Early foil cards from Stronghold are exceedingly hard to find in mint. PSA 10 foil Mox Diamond reaches $15,000-$30,000.
Authentication tips
BGS, PSA, and CGC all grade Magic cards. Alpha cards are easy to spot by their rounder corners. Beta has a slightly different border. Modern reprints (Reserved List, Masters editions) are clearly marked but can confuse beginners. Buy graded examples for any card over $1,000.
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