Only awarded to the third-place winners in the regional qualifiers for the Lizardon Mega Battle in Japan in late 1997 & early 1998, the Bronze Trophy Pikachu has only approximately 15 copies known to have been officially been awarded. Across the 6 different regional qualifiers at which these Trophy Pikachu cards were awarded to, there are thought to have been 9 junior league and 6 senior league copies awarded, with the cards themselves were awarded inside of an acrylic plaque denoting which tournament they were won at. The Lizardon Mega Battle championships itself has been historically labeled the first official national championships for Japan, with over 20,000 people in attendance, where the winners of the Junior and Senior League tournaments received trophies instead of prize cards like the regional qualifiers. As a result, these regional Trophy Pikachu cards have been long coveted by card collectors for their historical importance, and a truly museum quality investment piece. Illustrated by legendary Base Set Charizard artist Mitsuhiro Arita, the artistic attention to detail of this card can not be understated. Featuring the original design of the “chubby” Pikachu hoisting a bronze trophy proud as a peacock with a holographic that is unparalleled in its’ beauty, these illustrations are where the modern Trophy Pikachu cards drew inspiration from in their design. One of the most desirable and historically significant cards ever created, and ranking among the Pikachu Illustrator for both its aesthetic and historical value, this Bronze Trophy Pikachu comes with our highest recommendation.
