Is Michael Jordan #169 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #169 sells for $86.00 against $3.14 raw: a $82.86 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.71) 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)
- $3.14
- PSA 10
- $86.00
- PSA 9
- $66.71
- 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 | $86.00 | +$57.86 | +$32.86 | −$67.14 |
| PSA 9 | $66.71 | +$38.57 | +$13.57 | −$86.43 |
| PSA 8 | $27.01 | −$1.13 | −$26.13 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $3.14 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% | $71.53 | +$18.39 |
| 50% | $76.35 | +$23.21 |
| 75% | $81.18 | +$28.04 |
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 | $112 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $86.00 | −$26.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $52.00 | −$60.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $52.00 | −$60.00 | 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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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Michael Jordan #169 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #169 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #169 sells for $86.00 against $3.14 raw: a $82.86 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.71) 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 #169 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #169 (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck) sells for about $86.00 versus $3.14 for a raw near-mint copy — a 27× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #169?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $112, ahead of PSA 10 at $86.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #169 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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