Why Is Base Set Dugtrio Rising in Cost Despite Being Non Holo?
In the world of Pokemon trading cards, the original Base Set from 1999 holds a special place. Among its many cards, Dugtrio stands out as a non-holo rare numbered 19/102. Unlike flashy holographic cards like Charizard or Blastoise, this plain version lacks the shiny foil that draws most eyes. Yet its price keeps climbing, with recent market listings starting from $1.38 and a market price around $6.84, showing steady demand. Check out current sales data at https://www.tcgplayer.com/search/pokemon/all?q=Dugtrio+Base&productLineName=pokemon&setName=all&view=grid.
Non-holo cards from Base Set were printed in huge numbers during unlimited runs after the first edition. This means more Dugtrio copies exist compared to rare holos. But collectors today chase complete sets, and Dugtrio fills a key spot as a stage 1 evolution from Diglett. Its simple artwork shows three fierce Diglett heads popping from the ground, tying into the game’s early ground-type theme. As Base Set nostalgia grows with Pokemon’s 25-plus years of history, even basic cards gain value.
Supply plays a big role too. Time wears down old cards through play, storage issues, or loss. High-grade near mint or gem mint Dugtrio copies are harder to find now, pushing prices up for survivors. Recent sales reflect this trend, with over 300 listings active and prices firming despite the non-holo status. For comparison, newer non-holo Dugtrio from sets like Scarlet & Violet 151 sell for just $1.25 with no change, as seen on https://www.sportscardinvestor.com/cards/dugtrio-pokemon/2023-scarlet-violet-151-base-051-165.
Error cards add extra appeal in Base Set. While Dugtrio itself has no famous misprints, the era’s printing quirks like ink hickeys or rotated symbols on related cards spark interest in full sets. Bulbapedia notes these errors from Base Set and Jungle prints, drawing error hunters who value Dugtrio as part of that history. Details at https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Error_cards.
Investors eye Base Set commons and rares for long-term holds. Non-holo Dugtrio benefits from low entry cost but rising floor price, making it a smart pick for builders avoiding holo hype. Other non-holo examples like Evolutions Dugtrio hover at 0.47 pounds, showing how vintage scarcity trumps modern abundance. See pricing at https://pokecardvalues.co.uk/cards/dugtrio-56-108-non-holo-unlimited-evolutions/xy12-56-2-1/.
Modern Japanese sets like Mega Dream ex feature variant Dugtrio at $2.20 to $5.25 ungraded, but they lack Base Set’s origin story pull. Population data there hints at grading potential, yet nothing matches the original’s climb. Track it via https://www.pokeinvest.io/card/japanese-mega-dream-ex/team-rockets-dugtrio-reverse-holo-83 or full index at https://www.pricecharting.com/console/pokemon-japanese-mega-dream-ex.
Sources
https://www.sportscardinvestor.com/cards/dugtrio-pokemon/2023-scarlet-violet-151-base-051-165
https://www.tcgplayer.com/search/pokemon/all?q=Dugtrio+Base&productLineName=pokemon&setName=all&view=grid
https://www.pokeinvest.io/card/japanese-mega-dream-ex/team-rockets-dugtrio-reverse-holo-83
https://www.pricecharting.com/console/pokemon-japanese-mega-dream-ex
https://pokecardvalues.co.uk/cards/dugtrio-56-108-non-holo-unlimited-evolutions/xy12-56-2-1/
https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Error_cards
