Pokémon card numbers explained: what 4/102, 199/165, TG05 and SVP really mean
The number on a Pokémon card is the fastest way to know exactly which card you have. How to read every format, from 4/102 to secret rares and promos.
The PeekaScan teamMakers of the free card price checkerThe name on a Pokémon card tells you which Pokémon it is. The number tells you which card it is. The same Pokémon can appear several times in one set, and many times across sets, so the number is what separates them. Here's how to read every format you'll run into.
Where to find it
The number is printed in a bottom corner: bottom right on most vintage cards, bottom left on modern ones. Modern cards also print a short set code and a regulation letter next to it.
The standard format: 4/102
- The first number is the card's position in the set.
- The second number is the set's official size.
So 4/102 is card 4 of a 102-card set. That one happens to be Base Set Charizard.
Numbers above the set size: secret rares
Sometimes the first number is bigger than the second, like 199/165. That isn't a misprint. It's a secret rare, printed beyond the main set on purpose, and usually among the hardest pulls. Charizard ex 199/165 from the 151 set is a well-known example. One of the earliest is Dark Raichu, 83/82 in Team Rocket.
Subsets with their own numbering
Some sets have a mini-set inside them with its own numbers:
- TG01/TG30: Trainer Gallery cards, in several Sword & Shield sets.
- GG01/GG70: Galarian Gallery, in Crown Zenith.
These are separate cards from the main-set cards with the same Pokémon, so "TG05" and "5" are not the same card.
Promos: a code instead of a fraction
Black Star promos don't have a "/total". They have a code, like SWSH050 or SVP EN 173. The whole code is the number. Leave out the letters and you'll find the wrong card.
Why it matters when you buy
A listing titled "Mega Rayquaza ex" could be any of several different cards from the same set. The name alone doesn't tell you which one is for sale, but the number does. Before you buy, make sure the number in the photos matches the card you're paying for.
How PeekaScan uses it
When you scan or type a card, PeekaScan uses the full number, including prefixes like TG, GG or SVP, to land on the exact card. If the number and the set don't add up, it tells you instead of guessing. Typing works too: start typing "pikachu 58/102" in the side panel and pick the exact card from the list.