Ankh of Mishra

The Ankh of Mishra was originally released in 1993 as part of the Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering, designed by Richard Garfield to be a high-stakes artifact that punished players for land deployment. Its inclusion in the 1993 International Collectors' Edition served as a high-quality, square-cornered commemorative printing intended for display and non-tournament use. This specific version, featuring a gold-bordered back, was produced to provide players with access to iconic cards from the early sets during a period when original printings were rapidly becoming scarce.

The artwork was commissioned from Amy Weber, one of the game's original illustrators, who imbued the card with a dark, enigmatic aesthetic that defined the visual language of early Magic artifacts. Weber's design centered on the symbolic weight of the Ankh, utilizing a stark, stylized composition that complemented the card's aggressive mechanical function. While originally polarizing among players due to its punishing effect on the game state, the artwork has since become a hallmark of the game's formative era, frequently cited by collectors for its distinct, painterly influence on the trading card genre.