NGC Affiliate, CGC Cards, Grades the First Trading Cards Made from Pure Gold, Silver and Platinum

CGC Cards™, the affiliate of Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) that provides expert and impartial certification services for trading card games (TCGs) and sports cards, recently had the honor of grading the hobby’s first trading cards made from pure gold, silver and platinum. Released worldwide in August 2023, the precious metal cards comprise the “Treasure Hunt,” an insert series featured in Panini’s acclaimed 2022 National Treasures NFL Trading Cards set, which has long been one of the hobby’s most high-profile sports card releases.

Click images to enlarge.

Unlike cards using gold or silver foil, with the Panini Treasure Hunt cards, the precious metal is in the card:

• The .999 silver cards contain 100 milligrams of silver
• The 24-karat gold cards contain 1 gram of gold
• The .999 platinum cards contain 1 gram of platinum

The limited series consists of just 720 cards, showcasing 20 NFL star players, with 500 silver cards, 200 gold cards and 20 platinum cards. Each player has a mintage of 25 silver cards, 10 gold cards and only one platinum card.

For a checklist of the cards, go here.

“In many ways, the Panini Treasure Hunt cards represent a breakthrough in the value that may be associated with trading cards,” said Harshen Patel, Vice President of CGC. “Gold, silver and platinum have intrinsic worth, independent of the player on the card, so when the value of the precious metal is paired with a star player, plus an appealing design, you have an immensely attractive collectible. CGC Cards was thrilled to grade these cards and encapsulate them in our state-of-the-art holder, for protection, preservation and stunning display.”

More about the Panini National Treasures “Treasure Hunt” cards, from their maker

According to Valaurum Inc., the company that produces the Treasure Hunt cards, they are manufactured in the US through a patented nanotechnology that uses atomic deposition to lay precise amounts of silver, gold or platinum onto the cards. Valaurum Inc. has been making gold banknotes for countries and collectors using its Aurum® technology, and the entrance of precious metals into the trading card world has been the result of years of research and development.

“We are excited to bring this technology to the world of trading cards,” said Balazs Csaki, President of the Trading Cards Division at Valaurum. “I’ve collected cards since I was a kid, and there has always been this feeling that we’d have something very special if we could bring the inherent value of precious metal into a hobby dominated by cardboard. We are proud to have developed the technology to make this concept a reality, and to produce a collectible using rare precious metals, rather than a material that can be printed into infinity.”

“The future of this technology could be amazing for trading cards, which is a huge marketplace,” said Adam Crum, President of Finest Known, a nationally recognized retail store that has sold over a billion dollars of gold and silver. “When I first saw these cards in hand, I knew they would be big, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.”

2022 Panini National Treasures Football Treasure Hunt Checklist

Each card is numbered 1 of X, 2 of X, etc.
RC = Rookie Card