![Kobe Bryant [Precious Metal] #181 (Basketball Cards 1996 Fleer Metal) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/yhAAAeSwtJZqGs7k/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [Precious Metal] #181 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Fleer Metal · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Precious Metal] #181 sells for $77,850 against $71.50 raw: a $77,778 spread, 1089× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,807) 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)
- $71.50
- PSA 10
- $77,850
- PSA 9
- $2,807
- Gem premium
- 1089×
- 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 | $77,850 | +$77,753 | +$77,728 | +$77,628 |
| PSA 9 | $2,807 | +$2,710 | +$2,685 | +$2,585 |
| PSA 8 | $896 | +$799 | +$774 | +$674 |
Net = sale price − $71.50 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% | $21,567 | +$21,446 |
| 50% | $40,328 | +$40,207 |
| 75% | $59,089 | +$58,968 |
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 | $101,205 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $77,850 | −$23,355 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $46,710 | −$54,495 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $46,710 | −$54,495 | 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 | $77,850 | $46,710 | $101,205 | $46,710 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $4,405 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $2,807 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $896 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $717 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Fleer Metal cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Scottie Pippen [Precious Metal] #229 1996 Fleer Metal card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bbgAAeSwAxtp~-8t/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Precious] #241 1996 Fleer Metal card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/t7YAAeSwmpVn6WE9/s-l500.jpg)
![Ray Allen [Precious Metal] #186 1996 Fleer Metal card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/k9cAAeSwcM9p6Dtd/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant [Precious Metal] #181 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Precious Metal] #181 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Precious Metal] #181 sells for $77,850 against $71.50 raw: a $77,778 spread, 1089× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,807) 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 [Precious Metal] #181 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Precious Metal] #181 (Basketball Cards 1996 Fleer Metal) sells for about $77,850 versus $71.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1089× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant [Precious Metal] #181?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $101,205, ahead of PSA 10 at $77,850. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant [Precious Metal] #181 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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