2005 Pokemon EX Deoxys Holo Latios Gold Star #106 PSA 10 GEM MINT

One-half of the Eon duo, Latios debuted in the fifth Pokémon movie Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias (2003) as one of the guardians of Alto Mare. In Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire, legend told of an old man and woman who found two wounded children washed ashore on the town’s seaside. As the couple nursed the children back to health, an evil monster appeared and swallowed the city whole. But just as all hope seemed lost, the children suddenly transformed into the mirage Pokémon Latios and Latias. Powered by the mythical Soul Dew, the pair fought back the darkness, chasing it away from Alto Mare for good. Latios and Latias have since landed among the franchise’s most loveable Legendary Pokémon, with unique appearances and fearless temperament making the duo an instant fan favorite. After introducing “Pokémon Star” or “Gold Star Pokémon” in 2004’s EX Team Rocket Returns, the Pokémon TCG added a new trio of these coveted Ultra Rare cards in the follow-up expansion EX Deoxys. In addition to the gold star symbol alongside its name, this Latios Gold Star features artwork that extends beyond the portrait border, adding a unique visual element that denotes its extreme rarity. The Latios depicted is also Shiny, another trademark of Pokémon Star cards. With an average pull rate of 1:72 packs—roughly one in every two booster boxes—this Latios Gold Star remains one of the rarest cards of the EX era and has proven extremely difficult to locate in high grade. Though they will not have to fend off dark forces during this month’s Pop Culture Premier Auction, bidders should prepare to face plenty of competition for this stunning PSA 10 example.