Cost Down [1st Edition] #DCR-053

Cost Down [1st Edition] #DCR-053 collector guide

About Cost Down

Cost Down is a Normal Spell Card, printed as DCR-053 in Dark Crisis (2003) as an Ultra Rare. Dark Crisis closed out 2003 with cards such as Exodia Necross, Vampire Lord and Skull Archfiend of Lightning. Ungraded, this printing ranks 26th of the 216 Dark Crisis cards we track. The top card is Contract with the Abyss at €53.55.

Character and collecting appeal

Its text is about discarding.

Version and identification

This guide covers the 1st Edition printing. The words "1st Edition" are printed below the artwork on the left; copies without them are the Unlimited printing and usually sell for less. Check the code printed below the artwork on the right: it should read DCR-053. The code DCR-053, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as DCR-E053, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Dark Crisis has one other printing of Cost Down: DCR-053 (€3.04). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €6.84, a PSA 9 for €40.04 and a PSA 10 for €334.37. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 1%, and up 23% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €18.72 in April 2022, 63% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 6% over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 2.3× the Unlimited printing (€6.84 against €3.04).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 48.9× the ungraded price and 8.4× a PSA 9. That gap is big enough that grading a sharp, well-centred copy can pay for itself. On cards from the early 2000s, the dark brown backs show every scuff and white edge, so top grades are scarce.

Investment potential

In its favour: a price well below its April 2022 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; an active market (54 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €6.84 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €40.04. Ask the seller to show the code DCR-053, the "1st Edition" text and the Ultra Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. At this price fakes are worth checking for: genuine cards have a small holographic seal (the Eye of Anubis) in the bottom-right corner, and the font, colours and card back should match a copy you know is genuine. Look up the certificate number of any graded copy on the grading company's website. Cards from 2003 often show white wear on the back edges and corners, so ask for photos of the back before you buy.

Card details and image from YGOPRODeck. Yu-Gi-Oh! is a trademark of Konami; Search Cards is not affiliated with Konami.