![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 (Basketball Cards 1998 Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/myMAAeSwVppqjMYs/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 sells for $17,000 against $635 raw: a $16,365 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,299) 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)
- $635
- PSA 10
- $17,000
- PSA 9
- $5,299
- Gem premium
- 27×
- 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 | $17,000 | +$16,340 | +$16,315 | +$16,215 |
| PSA 9 | $5,299 | +$4,639 | +$4,614 | +$4,514 |
| PSA 8 | $1,748 | +$1,089 | +$1,064 | +$964 |
Net = sale price − $635 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% | $8,224 | +$7,539 |
| 50% | $11,149 | +$10,465 |
| 75% | $14,075 | +$13,390 |
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 | $22,100 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $17,000 | −$5,100 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $10,200 | −$11,900 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $10,200 | −$11,900 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Kobe Bryant [Non Protected Refractor] #175 1998 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/txMAAeSw-95qm31Z/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [w/ Coating] #175 1998 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tYoAAeSwNwVqZruG/s-l500.jpg)
![Paul Pierce [Refractor] #235 1998 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8yMAAeSwAZtqQu8j/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [w/ Coating] #81 1998 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/brMAAeSwRQtqSkHl/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #175 1998 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SyoAAeSwBdhqOFWt/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 sells for $17,000 against $635 raw: a $16,365 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,299) 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 [Refractor] #81 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 (Basketball Cards 1998 Finest) sells for about $17,000 versus $635 for a raw near-mint copy — a 27× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $22,100, ahead of PSA 10 at $17,000. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Refractor] #81 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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