2019 Pokemon Sun & Moon Cosmic Eclipse Gold Pikachu & Zekrom GX
The Gold Pikachu & Zekrom GX full art secret rare from the 2019 Pokemon Sun & Moon Cosmic Eclipse expansion is one of the most visually spectacular and desirable Pokemon cards produced in the modern era. Combining the franchise's most beloved mascot (Pikachu), a fan-favorite legendary (Zekrom), and the striking gold "rainbow" secret rare treatment, this card represents a convergence of collector appeal factors.
Cosmic Eclipse Set Overview
Sun & Moon Cosmic Eclipse was released in November 2019 as the final main set in the Pokemon Trading Card Game's Sun & Moon era. As a "final set," it contained an unusually generous selection of full art, rainbow rare, and gold card treatments, making it one of the most popular sets with collectors and one that saw high print runs to meet demand.
The set contained 271 cards in the base set plus a significant number of secret rares, including gold cards like the Pikachu & Zekrom GX. Gold Pokemon cards use a special gold card stock with holofoil treatment, creating an appearance distinct from standard rainbow rare cards.
The Gold Card Treatment
Gold cards in Pokemon TCG are the highest rarity tier in many sets. Specifically for Cosmic Eclipse:
| Rarity | Card Type |
|---|---|
| Standard | Common, Uncommon, Rare, Holo Rare |
| Full Art | Ultra Rare |
| Rainbow Rare | Secret Rare |
| Gold | Secret Rare (highest) |
The Gold Pikachu & Zekrom GX features the distinctive gold card stock treatment with the GX artwork rendered in the gold foil style. The card number places it outside the set's standard numbering, confirming its secret rare status.
Pikachu & Zekrom GX: Card Specifications
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Set | Sun & Moon Cosmic Eclipse |
| Card Number | 162/236 (regular), 221/236 (full art), 230/236 (rainbow), 250/236 (gold) |
| HP | 240 |
| Type | Lightning (double) |
| Ability | Full Blitz (search for Lightning Energy) |
| Attack | Tag Bolt GX |
| Rarity | Gold Secret Rare |
The GX mechanic, introduced in the Sun & Moon era, allowed players to use powerful GX attacks once per game. Pikachu & Zekrom's Tag Bolt GX combined raw damage output with potential additional effects, making it competitive at the time of release.
Condition and Values
Pokemon card values depend heavily on PSA or BGS grade:
| Condition | Approximate Value |
|---|---|
| PSA 10 Gem Mint | $300 to $700 |
| PSA 9 Mint | $100 to $250 |
| PSA 8 NM-MT | $40 to $90 |
| PSA 7 NM | $20 to $45 |
| Ungraded Near Mint | $25 to $65 |
| Lightly Played | $15 to $35 |
The PSA 10 premium is significant: gold cards are particularly demanding to grade at 10 because the gold card stock frequently shows printing artifacts, scratches from card-to-card contact in packs, and edge wear more visibly than standard card stock.
Pokemon Card Grading Challenges
Gold Pokemon cards present specific grading challenges:
Surface scratches: The gold foil treatment is more susceptible to surface scuffing than standard holo treatments. Cards that appear NM to the naked eye may show fine surface marks under grading scrutiny.
Print dots: Gold cards occasionally show small circular print artifacts from the specialized card stock production process.
Centering: PSA grade 10 requires near-perfect centering (60/40 or better). Many Cosmic Eclipse packs show off-center pulls due to production variability.
Edge wear: Card edges and corners must be perfect for a 10. Gold card stock shows corner whitening more readily than standard stock.
The Tag Team Era in Pokemon
The "Tag Team GX" cards introduced in 2019 were a significant development in the Pokemon TCG meta and in collector appeal. Featuring two Pokemon on a single card, these cards had higher HP and more powerful attacks but gave up more Prize Cards when knocked out. The concept generated collector interest by pairing beloved characters in unprecedented combinations.
Pikachu & Zekrom is one of the most popular Tag Team pairings because of Pikachu's universal recognition and Zekrom's popular design as a legendary from Pokemon Black and White. The combination of these two figures in gold treatment makes this card particularly sought-after.
The Broader Pokemon Collector Market
The Pokemon card market experienced extraordinary volatility 2020-2022 as media attention and new collector entry drove prices dramatically higher. Values have since partially corrected from their peaks. Gold Pikachu & Zekrom GX values in 2024-2026 reflect a more normalized market, though still considerably higher than pre-2020 levels.
For new collectors, this card represents a good entry point into Pokemon gold card collecting: recognizable characters, visually spectacular, and available at prices accessible without extraordinary investment.
Related Items
Have This Item?
Our AI appraisal tool is coming soon. Upload photos, get instant identification and valuation.
Get Appraisal