Is Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #154 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #154 sells for $605 against $556 raw: a $49.18 spread, 1.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($591) 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)
- $556
- PSA 10
- $605
- PSA 9
- $591
- Gem premium
- 1.1×
- 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 | $605 | +$24.18 | −$0.82 | −$101 |
| PSA 9 | $591 | +$10.21 | −$14.79 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $519 | −$61.81 | −$86.81 | −$187 |
Net = sale price − $556 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% | $595 | −$11.30 |
| 50% | $598 | −$7.81 |
| 75% | $602 | −$4.31 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $787 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $605 | −$182 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $363 | −$424 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $363 | −$424 | 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 | $605 | $363 | $787 | $363 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $593 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $591 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $519 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $128 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [Refractor w/ Coating] #271 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qTkAAeSwz-BqUlEw/s-l500.jpg)
![Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #309 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HPwAAOSwfQthNElB/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #323 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xlAAAeSwkPFqRW8C/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #39 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DBcAAeSweW9pdxma/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #154 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #154 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #154 sells for $605 against $556 raw: a $49.18 spread, 1.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($591) 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 [w/ Coating] #154 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #154 (Basketball Cards 1997 Finest) sells for about $605 versus $556 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1.1× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #154?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $787, ahead of PSA 10 at $605. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #154 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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