Magic: The Gathering, the popular fantasy-themed collectible card game from Wizards of the Coast, has introduced an official expansion based on Lord of the Rings. Among the multitude of printed cards featuring characters like Frodo, Sauron, and Aragorn, was a unique and highly coveted card representing the infamous One Ring. Recently, this exceptionally rare One Ring card has been discovered.
The news of The One Ring’s finding was initially shared on Twitter by the MTG fan account, Hipsters of the Coast, who provided a link to the card’s certification on Friday. The certification indicated that the fortunate individual who found the card promptly had it professionally graded. Illustrated by Veli Nyström, an artist based in Finland, the card received a mint 9-grade ranking. While it fell just short of being considered a “virtually perfect card” it is still a remarkable find.
Responding to the discovery of The One Ring, the official MTG Twitter account quoted J.R.R. Tolkien, saying, “One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them.” They expressed their excitement at hearing about a new Ring-bearer in possession of the serialized 1:1 The One Ring card and mentioned that although this journey is complete, the adventure with #MTGxLOTR continues.
The discovery of The One Ring, by a Ring Bearer who wishes to remain anonymous, comes just two weeks after the Lord of the Rings crossover expansion was released worldwide, creating a frenzy in trading card stores. Bounties for The One Ring card have reached astronomical figures, with Spanish gaming store Gremio de Dregones offering $2.1 million for it, according to Dexerto. If the owner accepts this offer, The One Ring will become the most expensive Magic card ever printed, surpassing the Black Lotus, which has previously sold for over $500,000.
The inclusion of The One Ring in the Magic: The Gathering expansion has ignited excitement among fans and collectors alike. The convergence of these two iconic franchises has created a buzz in the gaming community, and the discovery of the rare One Ring card adds a touch of intrigue and wonder to the mix. With its rich lore and captivating gameplay, Magic: The Gathering continues to captivate audiences, and the inclusion of Lord of the Rings elements only enhances the experience for fans of both franchises.
Wizards of the Coast has been mired in controversy since the beginning of the year when it attempted to “deauthorize” the game Dungeons and Dragons’ publication under the Open Gaming License that had allowed for a thriving aftermarket for the game for decades. Wizards of the Coast is wholly owned by Hasbro, whose stock price had gone from ~$84 a share in January to a low of ~47 a share on March 14 of this year before beginning a slow recovery.
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