Meowth

Numbered 62 of 83 in Team Rocket, released in April 2000, Meowth is a Common, a Basic Colorless-type carrying 40 HP.

As a Basic Pokémon, Meowth needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.

Illustrated by Atsuko Nishida. Nishida is the original designer of Pikachu and many Gen 1 Pokémon, and her card work has a soft, rounded warmth that suits the friendlier creatures.

Meowth carries this Pokédex flavor text: "A popular Pokémon that earns money for its owner with its "Pay Day" ability."

A cat Pokémon. Famous for being the talking Pokémon in Team Rocket in the anime, and for the gold charm on its forehead. Jungle Meowth has steady cross-set Team Rocket-themed demand. Cheap raw entry point with anime upside.

Meowth is a Common, so raw copies trade for very little and most of the print run survives. The only real value is in pristine, high-grade copies, where even a Common can reach low triple digits in 1st Edition PSA 10. See the live price above for the current figure by grade.

Team Rocket shipped in 1st Edition and Unlimited, with no Shadowless print. The 1st Edition Meowth carries the Edition 1 stamp under the artwork and trades above the Unlimited copy in matching grade. The set is also home to Dark Raichu, the first Secret Rare ever printed.

Meowth is the most forgiving tier to grade in the set. Centering on the framed border is the usual cap, and the soft Wizards-era cardstock picks up edge whitening easily, but high print runs keep clean copies affordable.

Raw copies of Meowth are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Meowth is the practical move.