1993 MTG Alpha Mox Ruby Value & Price Guide

In August 1993, a mathematics professor named Richard Garfield introduced a card game at Gen Con that would create an entirely new category of entertainment. Magic: The Gathering launched with a limited print run called Alpha, and among its 295 cards were nine that would become legendary: the Power Nine. The Mox Ruby is one of those nine, a card so powerful that it was banned from tournament play almost immediately. Thirty years later, Alpha Mox Rubies are among the most valuable collectible cards in any game, rivaling the finest sports cards and vintage comics.

Quick Value Summary

Item: Mox Ruby (Alpha Edition) Year: August 1993 Category: Trading Cards Set: Magic: The Gathering - Alpha (Limited Edition) Print Run: Approximately 1,100 copies Card Type: Artifact (0 mana cost)

Condition Range:

• Played/Good: $5,000 - $8,000

• Light Play (LP): $8,000 - $12,000

• Near Mint (NM): $15,000 - $25,000

• BGS 8.5 (NM-MT+): $25,000 - $40,000

• BGS 9.0 (Mint): $40,000 - $75,000

• BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint): $100,000+

Record Sale: Alpha Power Nine cards in BGS 10 have sold for over $500,000. A BGS 10 Alpha Black Lotus sold for $3,000,000 in 2024. Rarity: Extremely Rare (approximately 1,100 Alpha copies exist)

The Story

Richard Garfield designed Magic: The Gathering while he was a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. The game combined elements of poker, chess, and traditional card games with the collecting aspect of baseball cards. Wizards of the Coast, a small game company in Seattle, agreed to publish it.

The first print run, Alpha, was limited to 2.6 million cards printed by Cartamundi in Belgium. This sounds like a lot, but each booster pack contained 15 cards and each starter deck contained 60. The rarest cards, the mythical "rares," appeared approximately once per 121 cards. With 295 different cards in the set, each rare had roughly 1,100 copies printed.

The Mox Ruby is part of a cycle of five Mox cards (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Pearl, and Jet), each named after a gemstone and each producing one color of mana. The word "Mox" comes from "moxie," meaning spirit or determination. In game terms, the Mox Ruby produces one red mana and costs zero mana to play. This is absurdly powerful because it effectively gives the player an extra land drop on the first turn, an advantage so game-breaking that all five Moxen were restricted in Vintage format and banned entirely in all other tournament formats.

The original Alpha cards are identified by their rounded corners, slightly smaller card size compared to later printings, and distinctive card backs. Alpha was followed by Beta (the same set with corrected cards and slightly larger print run), then Unlimited (white-bordered reprint), and then Revised. The Alpha printing remains the most valuable due to its status as the first and its extremely limited availability.

How to Identify It

Alpha vs. Beta: The most critical identification point. Alpha cards have more rounded corners than Beta cards. The difference is subtle but measurable. Alpha cards also have a slightly different border width.

Alpha vs. Unlimited: Alpha has black borders. Unlimited has white borders. This is an obvious visual difference.

Card Details:

• Name: Mox Ruby

• Type: Mono Artifact

• Rules Text: "Adds 1 red mana to your mana pool. Tapping this artifact can be played as an interrupt."

• Artist: Dan Frazier

• Illustration: A red gemstone on a gold setting

• Border: Black

• Corners: Rounded (more rounded than Beta)

Condition Assessment

Magic cards are assessed differently than sports cards:

• Centering: Alpha cards are notorious for poor centering. Finding a well-centered example is difficult.

• Print lines: Vertical or horizontal print lines across the card surface are common in early Magic printings.

• Corner wear: The rounded corners of Alpha cards can show whitening from even gentle handling.

• Surface scratches: The card surface can show fine scratches from shuffling.

• Ink consistency: Alpha printing used a process that sometimes produced inconsistent ink density.

Value by Condition

Played/Good ($5,000 - $8,000)

The card shows obvious signs of having been played in actual Magic games: shuffling wear, corner whitening, possibly minor edge dings. The card is fully playable and identifiable but would not grade well. Many Alpha Power Nine cards were extensively played before their collectible value was understood.

Light Play ($8,000 - $12,000)

Minor wear from handling. Corners may show slight whitening. Surface may have minor scratches visible under direct light. The card presents well from arm's length but has detectable flaws up close.

Near Mint ($15,000 - $25,000)

Excellent condition with only the most minor handling evidence. Corners are sharp, surface is clean, and centering is acceptable. Ungraded NM Alpha Mox Rubies have been trading in this range. The average ungraded NM price tracked by major marketplaces is approximately $23,000.

BGS 8.5-9.0 ($25,000 - $75,000)

Professionally graded examples in the Near Mint to Mint range. BGS (Beckett Grading Services) is the most common grading service for Magic cards, though PSA and CGC also grade them. A BGS 9.0 represents a card with exceptional condition that falls just short of perfection.

BGS 9.5+ ($100,000+)

Gem Mint examples are extraordinarily rare. Given the print quality issues inherent in Alpha, achieving a 9.5 or higher requires exceptional centering, no print lines, perfect corners, and a flawless surface. Very few Alpha Mox Rubies exist at this grade.

Known Variations

The Alpha Mox Ruby does not have error variants. However, collectors should be aware of:

• Beta Mox Ruby: Slightly less rounded corners, slightly different card dimensions. Beta copies are worth approximately 40-60% of Alpha values.

• Unlimited Mox Ruby: White-bordered reprint. Worth approximately 10-20% of Alpha values.

• International Edition (IE) and Collectors' Edition (CE): These have square corners and gold borders. Worth approximately 2-5% of Alpha values but have been appreciating rapidly.

Authentication and Fakes

Alpha Power Nine cards are heavily counterfeited due to their extreme value:

• Light test: Genuine Magic cards have a blue layer in the middle of the card stock that blocks light. Hold the card up to a bright light; a real card will not let light through. Many counterfeits fail this test.

• Loupe test: Under 10x magnification, genuine cards show a specific rosette printing pattern. Counterfeits often have different dot patterns.

• Black light test: Some counterfeits fluoresce differently than genuine cards under UV light.

• Weight and flexibility: Alpha cards have a specific weight and bend resistance that counterfeits struggle to match.

• Professional grading: For any purchase above $5,000, BGS, PSA, or CGC grading provides authentication and condition assessment.

Rebacking and alterations: Some fraudsters separate the front of a genuine card and attach it to a different card back. Professional graders check for this.

Grading costs: BGS charges $150-$300+ for cards in this value range, with higher fees for premium service levels. Given the card's value, grading is always worthwhile.

Where to Sell

• Heritage Auctions: Handles the highest-value Magic cards. Their trading card events attract deep-pocketed collectors.

• Card Kingdom: One of the largest Magic: The Gathering retailers, offering both buylist (immediate purchase) and consignment options.

• eBay: Active marketplace for graded Magic cards. Best for BGS 8.5 and below.

• Facebook groups: High-end Magic trading groups facilitate direct sales between collectors.

• Local game stores: Some established stores deal in high-value singles. Expect 60-70% of market value for cash sales.

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