![Michael Jordan [Gold] #1 (Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra Stars) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pd4AAeSwFh9qmHgs/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Gold] #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra Stars · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan [Gold] #1 sells for $82,500 against $35,000 raw: a $47,500 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($75,000) 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)
- $35,000
- Grade 9.5
- $82,500
- PSA 9
- $75,000
- Gem premium
- 2.4×
- As of
- Nov 1, 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 | $82,500 | +$47,475 | +$47,450 | +$47,350 |
| PSA 9 | $75,000 | +$39,975 | +$39,950 | +$39,850 |
| PSA 8 | $50,000 | +$14,975 | +$14,950 | +$14,850 |
Net = sale price − $35,000 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% | $76,875 | +$41,825 |
| 50% | $78,750 | +$43,700 |
| 75% | $80,625 | +$45,575 |
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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Other 1997 Ultra Stars cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
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Grading Michael Jordan [Gold] #1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Gold] #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan [Gold] #1 sells for $82,500 against $35,000 raw: a $47,500 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($75,000) 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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