![Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G (Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/d1QAAeSwV0tqP0qQ/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G sells for $1,541 against $36.87 raw: a $1,504 spread, 42× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($187) 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)
- $36.87
- PSA 10
- $1,541
- PSA 9
- $187
- Gem premium
- 42×
- 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 | $1,541 | +$1,479 | +$1,454 | +$1,354 |
| PSA 9 | $187 | +$125 | +$100 | +$0.20 |
| PSA 8 | $65.51 | +$3.64 | −$21.36 | −$121 |
Net = sale price − $36.87 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% | $525 | +$439 |
| 50% | $864 | +$777 |
| 75% | $1,202 | +$1,115 |
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 | $2,003 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,541 | −$462 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $924 | −$1,079 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $924 | −$1,079 | 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 | $1,541 | $924 | $2,003 | $924 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $303 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $187 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $65.51 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $47.97 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Ultra cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G — FAQ
Is Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G sells for $1,541 against $36.87 raw: a $1,504 spread, 42× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($187) 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 Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G (Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra) sells for about $1,541 versus $36.87 for a raw near-mint copy — a 42× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,003, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,541. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tim Duncan [Gold Medallion] #131G 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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