Crown Zenith Special Art Cards: Why Prices Are Climbing in 2025
The Quiet Strength of Crown Zenith
When Crown Zenith closed out the Sword & Shield era in early 2023, many collectors expected a short-lived hype cycle. After all, it was a “catch-all” set — no mainline booster boxes, no competitive chase structure. But fast forward to 2025, and the special art cards from this set, particularly the Galarian Gallery, are proving to be stealth winners.
Cards like Giratina VSTAR and Mewtwo VSTAR Special Art are climbing steadily. Giratina, once selling around $120 raw, is now creeping past $180, with PSA 10s breaching the $400 mark. Mewtwo’s dynamic battle scene is also seeing upward momentum, crossing $80 raw and heading toward $200 in top grades.
What’s Driving the Market?
Several factors are fueling this price surge:
- Sealed Product Drying Up: While Crown Zenith was heavily printed, ETBs and special collections are being cracked open en masse, depleting supply.
- Cross-Collector Appeal: These cards attract both art collectors and competitive players, expanding the buyer base.
- Aesthetic Excellence: The Galarian Gallery features full scenes and legendary Pokémon in beautifully illustrated environments, making them standout display pieces.
Market Insight: Crown Zenith isn’t just riding on Charizard hype. It’s a collector-first set, and that’s paying dividends in the long run.
Looking Ahead
As Crown Zenith settles into out-of-print status, expect further upward pressure on these special art cards. Much like Hidden Fates’ Shiny Vault, scarcity and desirability will drive future gains, especially for PSA 10 examples.
Collectors seeking long-term holds should consider targeting clean, well-centered raw copies for grading — the premium on high-grade cards will likely widen as supply tightens.
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