![Kobe Bryant [Gold Medallion] #1G (Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hRIAAeSwIYZqwTBT/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [Gold Medallion] #1G worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Gold Medallion] #1G sells for $2,084 against $423 raw: a $1,662 spread, 4.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,775) 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)
- $423
- PSA 10
- $2,084
- PSA 9
- $1,775
- Gem premium
- 4.9×
- 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 | $2,084 | +$1,637 | +$1,612 | +$1,512 |
| PSA 9 | $1,775 | +$1,327 | +$1,302 | +$1,202 |
| PSA 8 | $917 | +$469 | +$444 | +$344 |
Net = sale price − $423 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% | $1,852 | +$1,380 |
| 50% | $1,930 | +$1,457 |
| 75% | $2,007 | +$1,534 |
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 | $2,710 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $2,084 | −$626 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,251 | −$1,459 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,251 | −$1,459 | 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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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Ultra cards worth checking
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Grading Kobe Bryant [Gold Medallion] #1G — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Gold Medallion] #1G worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Gold Medallion] #1G sells for $2,084 against $423 raw: a $1,662 spread, 4.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,775) 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 [Gold Medallion] #1G worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Gold Medallion] #1G (Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra) sells for about $2,084 versus $423 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.9× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant [Gold Medallion] #1G?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,710, ahead of PSA 10 at $2,084. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant [Gold Medallion] #1G 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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