What are the typical variants of a trading card?

If you're new to collecting, the sheer number of card variants can be overwhelming. The same player or character can appear on dozens of different versions of a card — and the variant is often the difference between a $5 card and a $5,000 card. Here's a plain-English guide to the most common variants.

Base card

The standard version of a card — the most common print. Every card has a base version, and it's usually the least valuable (unless it's a star player in mint condition).

Holo (Holographic)

The card's artwork has a shiny foil layer. In Pokémon, this is the version with the rainbow foil over the character image. Holos are rarer than base cards and more valuable.

Reverse Holo (Parallel Foil)

The background of the card is shiny, while the artwork is normal. Known officially as "Parallel Foil" cards, these are special variants of common, uncommon, and rare cards. Some collectors prefer reverse holos for their subtle shine.

Short Print (SP) and Super Short Print (SSP)

Cards produced in much smaller quantities than the base set. They're harder to pull from a pack, which makes them more valuable. Super Short Prints are even rarer.

Parallel cards

The same card design with a different foil treatment or colour. Parallels are often serial numbered — for example, a card numbered to /99 means only 99 copies exist. The lower the number, the rarer the card.

Serial numbered cards

Cards printed with a specific number on them, like 23/99 (the 23rd of 99 made). A 1/1 is a one-of-a-kind card — the most valuable serial number.

Insert cards

Special cards that aren't part of the base set — autographs, memorabilia cards (with a piece of jersey or patch), and short-printed subsets. Inserts are the chase cards that collectors hunt for.

Rookie Card (RC)

A player's first licensed card. Rookie cards are almost always the most valuable card of a player's career, so they're the ones to look out for.

The bottom line

Before you buy or sell, always check which variant you're looking at. A holo, a reverse holo, and a base card of the same character can have wildly different values. When in doubt, check a price guide or get the card graded.