Is Michael Jordan #291 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #291 sells for $6,213 against $537 raw: a $5,676 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,049) 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)
- $537
- PSA 10
- $6,213
- PSA 9
- $1,049
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $6,213 | +$5,651 | +$5,626 | +$5,526 |
| PSA 9 | $1,049 | +$488 | +$463 | +$363 |
| PSA 8 | $612 | +$50.16 | +$25.16 | −$74.84 |
Net = sale price − $537 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% | $2,340 | +$1,753 |
| 50% | $3,631 | +$3,044 |
| 75% | $4,922 | +$4,335 |
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 | $8,076 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $6,213 | −$1,863 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $3,728 | −$4,348 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $3,728 | −$4,348 | 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.
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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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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 →![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #50 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/keMAAeSwBOlqRmlp/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #74 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/P0kAAeSw0ZZqUPmz/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 Michael Jordan #291 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #291 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #291 sells for $6,213 against $537 raw: a $5,676 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,049) 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 #291 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #291 (Basketball Cards 1996 Finest) sells for about $6,213 versus $537 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #291?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $8,076, ahead of PSA 10 at $6,213. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #291 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.
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