Maiden of the Aqua [1st Edition] #PGD-008

Maiden of the Aqua [1st Edition] #PGD-008 collector guide

About Maiden of the Aqua

Maiden of the Aqua is an Effect Monster, printed as PGD-008 in Pharaonic Guardian (2003) as a Short Print. It is a Level 4 WATER Aqua monster with 700 ATK and 2,000 DEF. Pharaonic Guardian is the Ancient Egypt-themed set of 2003 that brought the Gravekeeper's monsters and Necrovalley, alongside cards such as Ring of Destruction and Don Zaloog. Ungraded, this printing ranks 60th of the 216 Pharaonic Guardian cards we track. The top card is Ring of Destruction at €35.21.

Character and collecting appeal

Aqua monsters often work with water Field Spells such as Umi. Its text names Umi, so collectors often look for them together.

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 PGD-008. The code PGD-008, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as PGD-E008, and are priced separately. It is the Short Print version. Short Prints look like Commons but were printed in smaller numbers. Pharaonic Guardian has one other printing of Maiden of the Aqua: PGD-008 (€1.83). 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 €2.54, a PSA 9 for €34.77 and a PSA 10 for €144.12. Our monthly prices for it go back to December 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 48%, and flat in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €12.03 in October 2022, 79% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 39% over the same 12 months. 1st Edition copies sell for about 1.4× the Unlimited printing (€2.54 against €1.83).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 56.7× the ungraded price and 4.1× 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 October 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 (29 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 48% in a year. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €2.54 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €34.77. Ask the seller to show the code PGD-008, the "1st Edition" text and the Short Print finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. 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.