A rare Pokémon card is set to shatter sales records unexpectedly.

What defines a “pristine” trading card? While casual Pokémon TCG enthusiasts might overlook minor scuffs on a card in decent shape, serious collectors willing to shell out millions are often much more particular. A recent auction for a 22-year-old Pokémon card highlights just how subjective card condition can be.

According to PSA, the leading grading service, a Gem Mint 10 card should be nearly flawless. It should feature sharp corners, clear printing, intact gloss, and no stains. Additionally, the card should be as well-centered as possible. PSA does allow for a “slight printing imperfection,” but overall, the standards for a PSA 10 are quite high.

With that in mind, let’s look at the auction for a 2004 Torchic Star card from the EX Team Rocket Returns set. This card is rare, with a low pull rate, and was part of a set that had a limited print run. Currently, there are only 30 ungraded copies available, none graded PSA 10, and existing graded versions command sky-high prices. An ungraded Torchic Star card typically starts at several thousand dollars. Recently, a Torchic Star card owned by Steve Aoki became one of the most expensive sales ever, fetching $117,800 for a CGC-rated 10.

The PSA 10 Torchic card currently up for auction has already reached a staggering $1.3 million, with eight days left in the bidding. There’s always a chance the winning bidder might back out, but if the sale goes through, it would become the second-highest Pokémon TCG sale ever, just behind the $16.4 million Pikachu Illustrator card.

From the front, the card appears to be in good shape:

However, flipping it over reveals the source of the controversy.

The right side shows visible white spots at the top, center, and bottom, while the edges on the left side are frayed. Such minor flaws could spark debates between sellers and buyers over terms like “lightly played” and “near mint.” Many Pokémon fans might argue that, given its rarity and age, the card is in excellent condition. The real question is whether it’s in good enough shape to justify a record-breaking $1.3 million price tag—or even more.

“Insane,” one Pokémon fan commented on social media. “Regraded, it’s a PSA 7,” another noted.

“It makes zero logical sense,” a TCG enthusiast remarked on a forum. “I see stuff like this and wonder what I’m even doing with my life. Going to work?”

If the card is graded so highly, it’s likely due to its certification by PSA before the current Pokémon craze. With more money flooding into the hobby than ever and a backlog of cards awaiting grading, the criteria for achieving a PSA 10 have tightened significantly. Nowadays, unless the grader at PSA is completely off their game, it’s much harder for cards with visible defects to earn a PSA 10 rating.

While some TCG fans are shocked by the price, others see no problem with Torchic’s valuation. There are an estimated 19 PSA 10 cards in existence, and nearly all are out of reach for most collectors. “This was always going to be the most expensive gold star when one became available for public sale,” one fan pointed out.