
Is Michael Jordan #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1992 Topps Gold · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #3 sells for $365 against $8.89 raw: a $356 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.28) 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)
- $8.89
- PSA 10
- $365
- PSA 9
- $54.28
- Gem premium
- 41×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $365 | +$331 | +$306 | +$206 |
| PSA 9 | $54.28 | +$20.39 | −$4.61 | −$105 |
| PSA 8 | $21.25 | −$12.64 | −$37.64 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $8.89 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% | $132 | +$73.13 |
| 50% | $210 | +$151 |
| 75% | $287 | +$229 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $475 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $365 | −$110 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $219 | −$256 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $219 | −$256 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $365 | $219 | $475 | $219 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $54.95 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $54.28 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $21.25 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $13.10 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1992 Topps Gold cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Michael Jordan #3 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #3 sells for $365 against $8.89 raw: a $356 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.28) 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 #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #3 (Basketball Cards 1992 Topps Gold) sells for about $365 versus $8.89 for a raw near-mint copy — a 41× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $475, ahead of PSA 10 at $365. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #3 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 #3 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #3 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $54.28).
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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