![Michael Jordan [Gold Medallion] #259G (Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Z2MAAeSww8FqwFbV/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Gold Medallion] #259G worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Gold Medallion] #259G sells for $3,873 against $180 raw: a $3,693 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($677) 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)
- $180
- PSA 10
- $3,873
- PSA 9
- $677
- Gem premium
- 21×
- 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 | $3,873 | +$3,668 | +$3,643 | +$3,543 |
| PSA 9 | $677 | +$472 | +$447 | +$347 |
| PSA 8 | $350 | +$145 | +$120 | +$19.87 |
Net = sale price − $180 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% | $1,476 | +$1,246 |
| 50% | $2,275 | +$2,045 |
| 75% | $3,074 | +$2,844 |
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 | $5,035 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,873 | −$1,162 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,324 | −$2,711 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,324 | −$2,711 | 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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Grading Michael Jordan [Gold Medallion] #259G — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Gold Medallion] #259G worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Gold Medallion] #259G sells for $3,873 against $180 raw: a $3,693 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($677) 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 [Gold Medallion] #259G worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Gold Medallion] #259G (Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra) sells for about $3,873 versus $180 for a raw near-mint copy — a 21× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Gold Medallion] #259G?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $5,035, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,873. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Gold Medallion] #259G 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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