Is Michael Jordan #CH3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Collector's Choice Chicago Bulls · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #CH3 sells for $169 against $2.79 raw: a $166 spread, 61× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.79
- PSA 10
- $169
- PSA 9
- $45.00
- Gem premium
- 61×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $169 | +$141 | +$116 | +$16.25 |
| PSA 9 | $45.00 | +$17.21 | −$7.79 | −$108 |
| PSA 8 | $17.02 | −$10.77 | −$35.77 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $2.79 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $76.01 | +$23.22 |
| 50% | $107 | +$54.23 |
| 75% | $138 | +$85.24 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 6%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $220 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $169 | −$50.96 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $101 | −$119 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $101 | −$119 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Other 1996 Collector's Choice Chicago Bulls cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Michael Jordan #CH3 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #CH3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #CH3 sells for $169 against $2.79 raw: a $166 spread, 61× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Michael Jordan #CH3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #CH3 (Basketball Cards 1996 Collector's Choice Chicago Bulls) sells for about $169 versus $2.79 for a raw near-mint copy — a 61× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #CH3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $220, ahead of PSA 10 at $169. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #CH3 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Michael Jordan #CH3 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #CH3 breaks even when it gems about 6% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $45.00).
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