---
title: "Black Lotus (Limited Edition Alpha) price, verified sales and population"
url: https://cardvolume.com/magic/alpha/black-lotus/
category: Magic: The Gathering
updated: 2026-09-28
as_of: 2026-11-11
source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com)
---

# Black Lotus (Limited Edition Alpha): price, verified sales and population

> Black Lotus is the best-known rare artifact from Magic: The Gathering's first commercial release, Limited Edition Alpha. Collectors search for it because it combines early Magic history, the Power Nine identity, Reserved List status, and unusually large grade and provenance premiums.

## Key facts

- CardVolume lists 18 verified sales of the Black Lotus (Limited Edition Alpha) as of November 11, 2026.
- No grade has the 5 verified sales in 90 days needed for a market price; the most recent verified sale was $2,208,000 for a Limited Edition Alpha PSA 10 on September 20, 2026 at Goldin Auctions, reported by ICv2.
- The highest verified sale on record is $3,000,000 for a Limited Edition Alpha CGC Pristine 10 on April 29, 2024 at Private sale reported by CGC Cards.

## Market price by version and grade

Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales.

| Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population |
|---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:|
| Limited Edition Alpha | PSA 10 | — | 1 | $2,208,000 (2026-09-20) | $2,208,000 (2026-09-20) | 3 |
| Limited Edition Alpha | PSA 8 | — | 0 | $100,000 (2026-06-26) | $100,000 (2026-06-26) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 8 | — | 0 | $68,750 (2025-12-12) | $68,750 (2025-12-12) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha | CGC Pristine 10 | — | 0 | $3,000,000 (2024-04-29) | $3,000,000 (2024-04-29) | 1 |
| Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | — | 0 | $174,000 (2022-12-02) | $174,000 (2022-12-02) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha autographed copy | CGC 7.5/Auto 10 | — | 0 | $78,125 (2026-06-26) | $78,125 (2026-06-26) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha autographed copy | BGS 9/Auto 10 | — | 0 | $106,251 (2024-04-11) | $106,251 (2024-04-11) | — |
| Limited Edition Beta | CGC 9 | — | 0 | $36,250 (2025-12-12) | $36,250 (2025-12-12) | — |
| Limited Edition Beta | CGC 8 | — | 0 | $27,500 (2025-05-30) | $27,500 (2025-05-30) | — |
| Limited Edition Beta | CGC 7 | — | 0 | $20,625 (2026-03-27) | $20,625 (2026-03-27) | — |
| Limited Edition Beta | CGC 4 | — | 0 | $16,875 (2026-05-28) | $16,875 (2026-05-28) | — |
| Unlimited Edition | CGC 8 | — | 0 | $15,000 (2025-12-13) | $15,000 (2025-12-13) | — |
| Unlimited Edition | CGC Gem Mint 10 | — | 0 | $34,200 (2026-07-05) | $34,200 (2026-07-05) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 9 | — | 0 | $138,402 (2025-08-03) | $138,402 (2025-08-03) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 6 | — | 0 | $46,360 (2025-10-19) | $46,360 (2025-10-19) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 8 | — | 0 | $66,069 (2023-11-19) | $66,069 (2023-11-19) | — |
| Unlimited Edition | PSA 3 | — | 0 | $7,625 (2025-05-04) | $7,625 (2025-05-04) | — |
| Unlimited Edition | BGS 7.5 | — | 0 | $17,324 (2026-08-04) | $17,324 (2026-08-04) | — |

## Verified sales

Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass.

| Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-20 | Limited Edition Alpha | PSA 10 | $2,208,000 | included | Goldin Auctions, reported by ICv2 | [link](https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/63421/magic-the-gathering-psa-10-alpha-black-lotus-sells-over-2-2-million) |
| 2026-08-04 | Unlimited Edition | BGS 7.5 | $17,324 | included | Goldin | [link](https://goldin.co/auctions/1993-magic-the-gathering-unlimited-rare-black-lotus-bgs-near-mint-7-5hkb62) |
| 2026-07-05 | Unlimited Edition | CGC Gem Mint 10 | $34,200 | included | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.cgccards.uk/news/article/15507/rayquaza-gold-star-cgc-fanatics-collect/) |
| 2026-06-26 | Limited Edition Alpha autographed copy | CGC 7.5/Auto 10 | $78,125 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-limited-edition-alpha-cgc-near-mint-75-auto-10-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-signed-by-christopher/a/7458-37002.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) |
| 2026-06-26 | Limited Edition Alpha | PSA 8 | $100,000 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-limited-edition-alpha-psa-trading-card-game-nm-mt-8-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7458-37001.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) |
| 2026-05-28 | Limited Edition Beta | CGC 4 | $16,875 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-limited-edition-beta-cgc-trading-card-game-vg-ex-4-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/43245-77014.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) |
| 2026-03-27 | Limited Edition Beta | CGC 7 | $20,625 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&dept=1938&ic10=OtherResults-ViewAll-071515&mode=archive&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526&term=Magic+The+Gathering+Black+Lotus) |
| 2025-12-13 | Unlimited Edition | CGC 8 | $15,000 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-unlimited-edition-cgc-trading-card-game-nm-mint-8-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7431-37023.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) |
| 2025-12-12 | Limited Edition Beta | CGC 9 | $36,250 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-limited-edition-beta-cgc-trading-card-game-mint-9-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7431-36016.s?ic16=ViewItem-Auction-Archive-PreviousPricesHeritage-081514) |
| 2025-12-12 | Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 8 | $68,750 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-limited-edition-alpha-cgc-trading-card-game-nm-mint-8-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7431-36002.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) |
| 2025-10-19 | Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 6 | $46,360 | included | Goldin | [link](https://goldin.co/auctions/1993-magic-the-gathering-limited-edition-alpha-rare-black-lotus-cgc-ex54zdu) |
| 2025-08-03 | Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 9 | $138,402 | included | Goldin | [link](https://goldin.co/auctions/1993-magic-the-gathering-alpha-black-lotus9h54j) |
| 2025-05-30 | Limited Edition Beta | CGC 8 | $27,500 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-limited-edition-beta-cgc-trading-card-game-nm-mint-8-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7434-36008.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) |
| 2025-05-04 | Unlimited Edition | PSA 3 | $7,625 | included | Goldin | [link](https://goldin.co/auctions/1993-magic-the-gathering-unlimited-black-lotus-psa-vg-37vutd) |
| 2024-04-29 | Limited Edition Alpha | CGC Pristine 10 | $3,000,000 | excluded | Private sale reported by CGC Cards | [link](https://www.cgccards.uk/news/article/12859/) |
| 2024-04-11 | Limited Edition Alpha autographed copy | BGS 9/Auto 10 | $106,251 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&dept=1938&ic10=OtherResults-ViewAll-071515&mode=archive&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526&term=Magic+The+Gathering+Black+Lotus) |
| 2023-11-19 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 8 | $66,069 | included | Goldin | [link](https://goldin.co/auctions/1993-magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-alpha-bgs-nm-mt-8uq555) |
| 2022-12-02 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | $174,000 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-limited-edition-alpha-bgs-trading-card-game-mint-9-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7291-36009.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) |

## How to identify each version

- **Limited Edition Alpha**: Black border, no expansion symbol, original 1993 frame, collector number not printed on the card, and the larger rounded Alpha corner cut.
- **Limited Edition Beta**: Black border and no expansion symbol like Alpha, but with the standard Magic corner radius rather than Alpha's larger rounded corners.
- **Unlimited Edition**: White border, no expansion symbol, same early frame family, and a 1993 core-set printing distinct from Alpha and Beta.
- **Limited Edition Alpha autographed copy**: An Alpha copy with an authenticated autograph or autograph grade; compare only to other signed/autographed examples.

**Identity note:** No collector number is printed on Alpha cards. Scryfall catalogs this card as Alpha #232. The seed identity was correct that the original Alpha card has no collector number printed. Modern databases commonly assign Black Lotus the set number 232 for cataloging.

## Why this card matters

Black Lotus matters because it is both an early Magic game piece and a collectible object from the first commercial Magic set. The card's catalog identity is an Alpha rare artifact by Christopher Rush, and Wizards' official Reserved List page includes Black Lotus under Limited Edition. That policy does not establish a price floor, but it is relevant supply evidence because it states that Reserved Cards will not be printed again in functionally identical tournament-legal physical form. For CardVolume, the useful claim is narrow: Alpha Black Lotus is an original 1993 printing with strong collector recognition, not a guaranteed financial result.

## Identifying the exact version

The exact version is the first step. Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited are not interchangeable comps. Alpha and Beta are both black-bordered early printings with no expansion symbol, while Unlimited is white-bordered. The practical Alpha/Beta distinction is the corner cut: Alpha cards have a larger, more rounded corner radius than Beta and later Magic cards. Modern catalog pages assign Black Lotus number 232, but that number is not printed on the original Alpha card. Signed, altered, artist-proof, 30th Anniversary, Collectors' Edition, and International Collectors' Edition examples should be treated as separate variants, not blended into Alpha raw or graded comps.

## What moves the price between versions and grades

The documented sales show that grade, grader, signature status, public auction venue, and provenance can move the observed price dramatically. A CGC Pristine 10 Alpha Black Lotus was reported by CGC as a $3,000,000 private sale in April 2024, while a PSA Gem Mint 10 Alpha Black Lotus sold through Goldin for $2,208,000 including buyer's premium in September 2026. Lower graded Alpha copies at Heritage are still large transactions, but they are separate markets from PSA 10 or CGC Pristine 10 copies. Condition rarity matters, but a population number is not a print run or a count of surviving copies.

## Authenticity checks

For authenticity, compare the physical card against official or stable catalog references for Alpha Black Lotus and against known authentic Alpha card features. Use multiple checks together: card size, corner radius, black border, rosette and print texture, text, back design, wear consistency, and the slab record if graded. Do not use destructive tests. A valid cert lookup alone is not enough because copied cert numbers and fake holders exist in the broader graded-card market. For high-value copies, require original photos, front and back slab images, provenance where available, and a specialist review before relying on the sale.

## Common misconceptions

- **Myth:** Every Black Lotus comp can be used for Alpha Black Lotus. **What the evidence says:** Evidence does not support merging Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, 30th Anniversary, Collectors' Edition, artist proof, altered, and signed copies. Exact printing and treatment must be separated before pricing.
- **Myth:** The Reserved List means the card must go up in value. **What the evidence says:** The Reserved List is a supply policy about functionally identical tournament-legal physical reprints. It is not a demand guarantee or price prediction.
- **Myth:** A population number is the same thing as the number of copies in existence. **What the evidence says:** Population is a grading-company count in a defined category. It excludes raw copies, other graders, resubmission effects, and unknown surviving copies.
- **Myth:** A PSA or CGC cert proves the physical slab is genuine by itself. **What the evidence says:** Certification data is only one check. Cert numbers can be copied, so the holder, label, card, images, and seller evidence still need review.

## FAQ

### How much did a PSA 10 Alpha Black Lotus sell for most recently in the sources opened here?

A PSA Gem Mint 10 Alpha Black Lotus sold for $2,208,000 including buyer's premium at Goldin, reported by ICv2 on September 20, 2026.

### What is the highest documented Black Lotus sale in this record?

The highest documented sale in this record is a CGC Pristine 10 Alpha Black Lotus reported by CGC as a $3,000,000 private sale on April 29, 2024.

### How do I tell Alpha Black Lotus from Beta Black Lotus?

Alpha has the larger rounded corner cut, while Beta has the standard Magic corner radius; both are black-bordered and lack an expansion symbol.

### Is Alpha Black Lotus on the Reserved List?

Yes, Wizards' official Reprint Policy lists Black Lotus from Limited Edition as a Reserved Card.

### How many CGC Pristine 10 Alpha Black Lotus copies exist?

CGC stated that the sold CGC Pristine 10 Alpha Black Lotus was the only CGC Pristine 10 example in the CGC Cards Population Report as of April 2024.

### Can I use Unlimited Black Lotus sales to price an Alpha copy?

No, Unlimited is a separate white-bordered printing and should not be merged with Alpha comps.

## Sources

1. [Black Lotus - Limited Edition Alpha catalog page](https://mtg.wtf/card/lea/232/Black-Lotus) (mtg.wtf)
2. [Official Reprint Policy](https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/official-reprint-policy) (Wizards of the Coast)
3. [Alpha Rare Authentication](https://www.mtginformation.com/alpha-rare-authentication) (MTG Information)
4. [Black Lotus Graded CGC Pristine 10 Sells for $3 Million, Breaking Record!](https://www.cgccards.uk/news/article/12859/) (CGC Cards)
5. ['Magic: The Gathering' PSA 10 Alpha Black Lotus Sells for Over $2.2 Million](https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/63421/magic-the-gathering-psa-10-alpha-black-lotus-sells-over-2-2-million) (ICv2)
6. [Heritage Auctions Lot 36009: Alpha Black Lotus BGS Mint 9](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-limited-edition-alpha-bgs-trading-card-game-mint-9-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7291-36009.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) (Heritage Auctions)
7. [Heritage Auctions Lot 36002: Alpha Black Lotus CGC NM/Mint 8](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-black-lotus-limited-edition-alpha-cgc-trading-card-game-nm-mint-8-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7431-36002.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) (Heritage Auctions)
8. [Heritage Auctions search results: Black Lotus archive sales](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&dept=1938&ic10=OtherResults-ViewAll-071515&mode=archive&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526&term=Magic+The+Gathering+Black+Lotus) (Heritage Auctions)

## How to cite

> Black Lotus (Limited Edition Alpha). CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/magic/alpha/black-lotus/ (accessed 2026-11-11).

Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/magic--alpha--black-lotus.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/