![Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269 (Basketball Cards 1996 Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2VIAAeSwKzZqUsFk/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269 sells for $5,377 against $1,016 raw: a $4,362 spread, 5.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,621) 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)
- $1,016
- PSA 10
- $5,377
- PSA 9
- $2,621
- Gem premium
- 5.3×
- 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 | $5,377 | +$4,337 | +$4,312 | +$4,212 |
| PSA 9 | $2,621 | +$1,580 | +$1,555 | +$1,455 |
| PSA 8 | $1,790 | +$749 | +$724 | +$624 |
Net = sale price − $1,016 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% | $3,310 | +$2,244 |
| 50% | $3,999 | +$2,933 |
| 75% | $4,688 | +$3,623 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $6,991 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $5,377 | −$1,614 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $3,226 | −$3,765 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $3,226 | −$3,765 | 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 | $5,377 | $3,226 | $6,991 | $3,226 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $4,000 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $2,621 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $1,790 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $1,100 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #74 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/P0kAAeSw0ZZqUPmz/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #50 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/keMAAeSwBOlqRmlp/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #74 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eWoAAeSwgf5qTluW/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #127 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-ssAAeSww81qNFCX/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #269 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vogAAeSwTt1qQy3R/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269 sells for $5,377 against $1,016 raw: a $4,362 spread, 5.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,621) 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 Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269 (Basketball Cards 1996 Finest) sells for about $5,377 versus $1,016 for a raw near-mint copy — a 5.3× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $6,991, ahead of PSA 10 at $5,377. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant [w Coating] #269 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.
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.
Check my card free