![Kobe Bryant [Gold] #59 (Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ab8AAeSwscxpqc3C/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [Gold] #59 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant [Gold] #59 sells for $264 against $115 raw: a $150 spread, 2.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($240) 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)
- $115
- Grade 9.5
- $264
- PSA 9
- $240
- Gem premium
- 2.3×
- 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 | $264 | +$125 | +$99.50 | −$0.50 |
| PSA 9 | $240 | +$101 | +$75.50 | −$24.50 |
| PSA 8 | $224 | +$84.52 | +$59.52 | −$40.48 |
Net = sale price − $115 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% | $246 | +$81.50 |
| 50% | $252 | +$87.50 |
| 75% | $258 | +$93.50 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Kobe Bryant [Gold] #59 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Gold] #59 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant [Gold] #59 sells for $264 against $115 raw: a $150 spread, 2.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($240) 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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