![Michael Jordan [Refractor w/Coating] #R1 (Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Y9gAAeSwws5qU8wB/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor w/Coating] #R1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor w/Coating] #R1 sells for $8,760 against $1,824 raw: a $6,936 spread, 4.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,300) 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)
- $1,824
- PSA 10
- $8,760
- PSA 9
- $7,300
- Gem premium
- 4.8×
- 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 | $8,760 | +$6,911 | +$6,886 | +$6,786 |
| PSA 9 | $7,300 | +$5,451 | +$5,426 | +$5,326 |
| PSA 8 | $1,313 | −$536 | −$561 | −$661 |
Net = sale price − $1,824 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% | $7,665 | +$5,791 |
| 50% | $8,030 | +$6,156 |
| 75% | $8,395 | +$6,521 |
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 | $11,388 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $8,760 | −$2,628 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $5,256 | −$6,132 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $5,256 | −$6,132 | 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 Topps Roundball Royalty cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
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![Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #R9 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Av4AAeSwgqhqm5Ux/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [w/Coating] #R1 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gd8AAeSwZZBqDTOg/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor, w/Coating] #R18 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bK0AAeSwGFpqlPXC/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan [Refractor w/Coating] #R1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor w/Coating] #R1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor w/Coating] #R1 sells for $8,760 against $1,824 raw: a $6,936 spread, 4.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,300) 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 w/Coating] #R1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor w/Coating] #R1 (Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty) sells for about $8,760 versus $1,824 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.8× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Refractor w/Coating] #R1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $11,388, ahead of PSA 10 at $8,760. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Refractor w/Coating] #R1 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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