Is Michael Jordan #J1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1999 Upper Deck Retro Epic Jordan · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #J1 sells for $65.00 against $20.62 raw: a $44.38 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.00) 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)
- $20.62
- Grade 9.5
- $65.00
- PSA 9
- $59.00
- Gem premium
- 3.2×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $65.00 | +$19.38 | −$5.62 | −$106 |
| PSA 9 | $59.00 | +$13.38 | −$11.62 | −$112 |
| PSA 8 | $39.00 | −$6.62 | −$31.62 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $20.62 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% | $60.50 | −$10.12 |
| 50% | $62.00 | −$8.62 |
| 75% | $63.50 | −$7.12 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Michael Jordan #J1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #J1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #J1 sells for $65.00 against $20.62 raw: a $44.38 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.00) 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.
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