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The Pokemon Company and McDonald’s have a long standing history spanning back over 20 years. Nothing’s more fun than cracking into a happy meal, with a side of Pokemon cards!
In this article we look back at some of the best cards from this iconic collaboration. Read on, because these are the most expensive McDonald’s Pokémon Cards ever produced…
1. 2002 Pokemon Japanese McDonald’s Holo Pikachu #010
PSA 10 Recently Sold for $1,902
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There’s only one place to start, and that’s with what’s widely considered as the best McDonald’s Pikachu artwork of all time. I mean, just look at that stunning background. This card comes from the 2002 McDonald’s Pokémon-e Minimum set, which was exclusively released at Japanese McDonald’s.
Alongside a 1-card pack pack customers received with their happy meal, they also had the option to purchase a 6-card booster pack for 180 yen, containing beautiful cards like this Piakchu below.
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2. 2002 Pokemon Japanese McDonald’s Holo Squirtle #7
CGC Perfect 10 Recently Sold for $1,230
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Next up is something really special. Again, we have a card from the Japanese 2002 e Minimum set, featuring this cute Squirtle blowing a bubble! But the reason it’s one of the most expensive cards on this list is the Perfect 10 CGC grade – an incredible feat for such an old card!
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3. 2002 Pokemon Japanese McDonald’s Promo Umbreon #25
PSA 10 Recently Sold for $870
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In at number 3, we’ve got this fascinating piece. The detail on Umbreon cards is something collectors love, and this artwork is no different. Umbreon cards are also the most valuable of all Eevvee-lutions, which is why it’s so high on our list.
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4. 2002 Pokemon Japanese McDonald’s Holo Charmander #004
PSA 10 Recently Sold for $760
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This McDonald’s Charmander is one of my absolute favourites. The character artwork and fire background are stunning, creating a highly collectible card.
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5. 2005 Pokemon Japanese McDonald’s Promo Mew #85
PSA 10 Recently Sold for $750
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Mew cards always tend to fetch high premiums, and this 2005 Japanese Promo is no different! With only 7 PSA 10’s in existence, it’s easy to see how this rare Mew card went for so much at auction.
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6. 2002 Pokemon Japanese McDonald’s Promo Mew #033/P
PSA 10 Recently Sold for $699
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This iconic ‘sunset Mew’ came from the second 2002 McDonald’s release in Japan. Happy meal customers would receive a Wind from the Sea pack containing one card, with this beautiful Mew being the most valuable.
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7. 2002 Pokemon Japanese Mcdonald’s Promo Pikachu #021/P
PSA 10 Recently Sold for $500
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This Pikachu card came from the earlier 2002 Japanese release and could be pulled from The Town on No Map packs. These are the 1-card packs that ran alongside the McDonald’s Pokémon-e Minimum set release.
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8. 2002 Pokemon Japanese McDonald’s Holo Fire Energy
PSA 10 Recently Sold for $384
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Possibly the best looking energy cards ever released belong the 2002 McDonald’s Pokémon-e Minimum set. Below is the fire energy, but you can also get Fighting, Grass, Lightning, Psychic and Water holos too.
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9. 2021 Pokemon McDonald’s Collection Holo Pikachu #25
PSA 10 Recently Sold for $275
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Fast forward to modern day, and in a year that Pokemon card popularity exploded it was fantastic to see them back at McDonalds! I personally bought a whole case of these off eBay before they were released here in the UK, and from opening up every pack I can confirm this Pikachu card is by far the hardest to pull. In fact, the whole case only contained 4 of them!
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10. 2002 Pokemon Japanese McDonald’s Promo Pichu #32
PSA 10 Recently Sold for $204
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Last but by no means least, we finish with this adorable Pichu card back from the Japanese 2002 McDonald’s second release. In terms of value, it’s second to only the Mew (in position 6) from this particular set, with only 81 PSA 10’s in existence.
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FAQs
Are McDonald’s Pokémon Cards Worth Anything?
As you can see from the list above, certain McDonald’s Pokémon cards are highly valuable. The majority of expensive cards come from the Japanese 2002 McDonald’s Pokémon-e Minimum set. This is because of their age, artwork and very limited print run. Newer McDonald’s Pokémon cards are certainly worth less, but certain characters (like Pikachu) can still fetch several hundred dollars when graded in a PSA 10.
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