Poliwag - XY Evolutions (Reverse Holo) [23/108]

Name: Poliwag - XY Evolutions (Reverse Holo) [23/108]
Brand: Momofthecircus
Availability: LimitedAvailability

A Reverse Holo Poliwag Pokémon card from the XY Evolutions set, numbered 23/108, showing edge wear and surface scratching.

Estimated value

$1 - $5

Rarity

Common(2/10)

POLIWAG - XY EVOLUTIONS (REVERSE HOLO) [23/108]: IDENTIFICATION

This is a Reverse Holofoil Poliwag from the 2016 XY Evolutions expansion. The card features the classic Ken Sugimori artwork originally seen in the 1999 Base Set. It is a Basic Water-type Pokémon with 60 HP and the 'Water Gun' attack, which deals 30 damage for two Water energy. The entire card face, excluding the artwork window, features a reflective foil treatment characteristic of the Reverse Holo parallel set.

Compare with other trading cards in the archive: Alakazam - Expansion Pack (Holo Rare) [No. 065], Arcanine - XY Evolutions (Holo Rare) [18/108], Blastoise - Expansion Pack (Japanese Base Set) Holofoil [No. 009].

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Japanese FolkloreEdo Period

Poliwag shares traits with the Kappa, a water imp often depicted with turtle-like features and a pool of water on its head.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

•No specific ritual, though the card was a common inclusion in 20th-anniversary 'nostalgia' pack-opening events.

Meaning Through Time

1999

A staple common card representing the initial global expansion of the franchise.

2016

A token of nostalgia designed to evoke childhood memories for returning adult collectors.

SET RELEASE & PRINT RUN

Released in November 2016 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Pokémon, the XY Evolutions set functioned as a modern reprint of the original 1999 Base Set. While it retains the vintage layout and aesthetic, the card features updated 2016 copyright dates and revised HP/attack values to align with ...

COLLECTOR INTEL

XY Evolutions became one of the most heavily printed sets in history, yet high-grade examples remained in high demand during the 2020 market surge.

SCARCITY

Common20-40%

CommonLegendary

Older mass-produced items still widely available. Easy to find on eBay, antique malls, and estate sales in large quantities.

Rarity 2/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 181 trading cards items at rarity 2 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

Mass produced historically
High survival rate
Readily available everywhere

Confidence Factors

Correct 2016 copyright typography and font size
Standard layout for XY Evolutions reverse holofoil parallel
High-volume common card with no major incentive for counterfeiting

How does authenticity detection work?

GRADING EXPERT'S TAKE

Trading Card Market Analyst

Card Specialist

The set identification and variant are definitive based on the high-clarity image showing the set symbol and card number. Market data for this specific common reverse holo is well-documented.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Set logo for XY Evolutions in the bottom right corner of the art box
2Reverse holofoil pattern across the text and border areas
3Card number 23/108 identifying its position in the expansion
4Visible condition issues including top-edge chipping and surface dulling

UNCERTAINTIES

•Significant top-edge wear reduces collector appeal and market value despite the popular artwork.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Examine the card back for whitening (silvering) on the blue borders
→Place in a penny sleeve and top-loader to prevent further surface scratching
→Check for holofoil 'bleed' where the pattern shows through the artwork

CONDITION & GRADE

PSA 4-5

Grading breakdown

Visible whitening and chipping along the top edge and top-right corner significantly lower the grade. The centering appears slightly heavy toward the bottom-left border.

Condition

The card exhibits significant top-edge wear and corner fraying visible in the photograph. There appears to be surface scratching or 'clouding' on the reverse holofoil finish, likely from unsleeved storage.

TRADING CARD MARKET VALUE

$1 - $5

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Nostalgia collectors completing master sets of XY Evolutions and casual Poliwag character collectors.

What increases value

•The 'Reverse Holo' finish carries a slight premium over the standard common version
•High-grade copies (PSA 10) can reach $20-$30, but raw copies are abundant