![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #291 (Basketball Cards 1996 Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SuAAAeSwmnBqJ0u9/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #291 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #291 sells for $18,850 against $2,600 raw: a $16,250 spread, 7.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($10,242) 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)
- $2,600
- PSA 10
- $18,850
- PSA 9
- $10,242
- Gem premium
- 7.3×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $18,850 | +$16,225 | +$16,200 | +$16,100 |
| PSA 9 | $10,242 | +$7,617 | +$7,592 | +$7,492 |
| PSA 8 | $5,500 | +$2,875 | +$2,850 | +$2,750 |
Net = sale price − $2,600 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% | $12,394 | +$9,744 |
| 50% | $14,546 | +$11,896 |
| 75% | $16,698 | +$14,048 |
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 | $24,505 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $18,850 | −$5,655 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $11,310 | −$13,195 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $11,310 | −$13,195 | 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 | $18,850 | $11,310 | $24,505 | $11,310 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $15,000 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $10,242 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $5,500 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $3,049 |
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
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Grading Michael Jordan [Refractor] #291 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #291 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #291 sells for $18,850 against $2,600 raw: a $16,250 spread, 7.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($10,242) 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 [Refractor] #291 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #291 (Basketball Cards 1996 Finest) sells for about $18,850 versus $2,600 for a raw near-mint copy — a 7.3× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Refractor] #291?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $24,505, ahead of PSA 10 at $18,850. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Refractor] #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.
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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