Piplup Pokémon Trading Card (Ultra Prism 32/156)

This is a standard-sized Pokémon trading card featuring the character Piplup, numbered 32/156 from the Sun & Moon: Ultra Prism expansion set released in 2018. The card is printed on semi-rigid cardstock with a distinctive yellow border and a 'reverse holo' or 'reverse foil' finish, indicated by the shimmering, reflective pattern across the entire text area and background, while the character artwork remains non-foil. The artwork, illustrated by Shibuzoh, depicts a stylized Piplup winking in a snowy, geometric landscape. Physical characteristics include a HP of 70, a 'Basic' stage designation, and two moves: 'Peck' (10 damage) and 'Wave Splash' (20 damage). Condition-wise, the card shows minor signs of wear consistent with light handling, including slight edge wear and minor surface scuffing on the bottom-left corner near the set symbol. The centering appears slightly heavy towards the bottom and right edges. The card features official Nintendo/Creature/GAME FREAK copyright information and the Ultra Prism 'prism' expansion symbol in the bottom left corner.

I have conducted a visual examination of the Piplup (32/156) Reverse Holo from the 2018 Sun & Moon: Ultra Prism expansion. The card features the correct 'reverse' foil pattern where the card face is reflective while the character art remains matte—a key identifier of this specific variant. Authenticity appears consistent with official printing standards, specifically the font kerning, the 'Shibuzoh' illustrator credit, and the distinctive Holofoil sheen characteristic of the Sun & Moon era. Condition-wise, the card is in 'Lightly Played' (LP) to 'Near Mint' (NM) state. My inspection revealed minor edge wear and surface scuffing in the lower-left quadrant. The centering is weighted toward the bottom and right, which prevents it from achieving a 'Gem Mint' assessment. As a common card from a relatively recent set, rarity is low, though the Reverse Holo variant carries a small premium over the standard version. Market demand is driven primarily by 'master set' collectors and fans of the Piplup character rather than competitive players. Comparables for this card in recent secondary market sales typically fluctuate between $1.00 and $4.00, depending on the exact degree of surface oxidation and corner crispness. Importantly, this appraisal is based on photographic evidence. A formal physical inspection is required to verify cardstock thickness, core-layer coloration, and the presence of any micro-creases or artificial recoloring that images cannot capture. Full authentication would involve surface light-refraction tests and microscopic analysis of the rosette printing pattern to rule out modern high-quality counterfeits.