A $4,850 sale, and it was raw
The Akali, Rogue Assassin (Signature) just sold for $4,850. On launch day, a month ago, it averaged about $2,444. That is up 65% in one month. It went up every week since Vendetta came out.
Every one of those sales was a raw card. Nobody has sold a graded one yet. Last week the average sale was $4,039.
TCGplayer has sold only 20 copies in a whole month. Right now there are seven listed across six sellers. That is less than two weeks of supply.
eBay's sold page can fool you
When a seller takes an offer, eBay's public sold page shows the asking price with a line through it. It does not show what the card really sold for.
One listing showed $5,250. It really sold for $4,850. Another showed $4,999. It really sold for $3,950. That is about a thousand dollars off. So I say this card has not sold for over $5,000 yet.
On TCGplayer, the market price shows about $3,200. That number lags behind. The last TCGplayer sale was $4,200.
Auction or Buy It Now?
People say never auction a $4,000 card. So I checked the last two weeks. Auctions averaged $3,712. Fixed price averaged $3,738. That is only $26 apart.
Some auctions ended near $3,500. If you are buying, an auction is a great way to get this card under market.
My call on the Akali Signature
The top eBay sale is $4,850. The top TCGplayer sale is $4,200. I split the difference and call it about $4,500. If you own one and do not play it, I would not take a $4,000 raw offer this week.
If you grade it, TAG is closed right now. That leaves PSA or Beckett. Beckett's fast tier is $125 and takes about seven business days. With insured shipping both ways, I figure about $425 all in. PSA charges more on high-value cards and takes longer.
Top risers this week
- Irelia - Fervent (Alternate Art) was the top riser. It went from about $20 to $29.
- Ahri - Inquisitive (Alternate Art) was second, up 25%. It dipped to $82 and is back near $90. Under $100, I think it is a good buy.
- Rengar - Pridestalker (Overnumbered) is up 24%.
- Darius - Executioner (Overnumbered) is up 15%. Its market price is $48.
- Jinx - Rebel (Arcane Box Set) went from $176 to $205. The lowest listing is $248. The Arcane box is no longer made.
- Akali, Deadly Weapon (Alternate Art) is about $14. I think it is the best-looking Alternate Art in Vendetta.
- Vex - Mocking (Alternate Art) is $2.99.
- Jax - Unrelenting (Alternate Art) and the Poppy Alternate Art are about $1.25 each. Silvermane the Mercenary is about $1.15.
- An Ornn Alternate Art is up 241% in 30 days. If you play Ornn, pick it up.
The loser: Seal of Focus
Seal of Focus went from $35.89 to $21. The lowest listing is $18.68. Last week I said not to buy it at $35 to $40. Now, around $18 to $20, I think it is a buy.