Proving just how rare they are. NBA Hoops is primarily a retail product known for having lower-quality cardstock and a high supply. Moreover, Fleer included a rarer parallel to the Fusion called Titanium Fusion, which is limited to 40 copies per player of numbers 31-50 and has a gold color on the front. The late Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, known for his remarkable scoring ability and his championship pedigree. Because the 97 Metal Universe Championship PMGs have such high demand and low supply, the value is priceless. Goldin Auctions recently sold a PSA example at auction in August 2022 for $15,350. Fleer did something unique with this set that has not been replicated since. . Auction Prices for 2004 All Pro Deal Playing Cards Kobe Bryant - Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) & PSA/DNA Authentication Services Services SkyBox Kobe Bryant Basketball Rookie Sports Trading Cards, Kobe Bryant Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) . More can be read about this particular auction item here. The Credentials parallel is serial numbered to 499 and has a PSA 10 population of just 4, pushing the value of the card to the top of Kobes rookies. $999.99. All Rights Reserved. On 4/6/2021 a BGS GEM MINT 9.5 sold for $67,200, and on 10/6/2021 a PSA 9 $18,450. PSA mint 9 examples sell between $1,500 $1,800. There are two versions to obtain, including the Future and Now. Kobes Future parallels have a serial number of /73 and have a bright pink background. 9. Both aren't cheap but the Atomic Refractor is more rare and carries a much higher price tag. Kobe Bryant (1996) - Sports Illustrated for Kids (#59) - Rare Collectible Rookie NBA Basketball Trading Card NickVintaCo (474) $44.99 FREE shipping Kobe Bryant Rug Topps Chrome Basketball Card 1996 Inspired Trading Graded Sports Card Rookie Card - High Quality - 75cm x 45cm GamerRugz (49) $179.35 FREE shipping PSA graded seven of Kobes 97 Metal Championship PMGs, with none grading gem mint 10, two mint 9, three NM-MT 8, and two NM 7. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. These cards almost never come up for auction, as for many collectors it would be considered a holy-grail card. With only 50 copies per player, the competition gets pretty stiff when one surfaces for auction. 2. The only recorded sales are of a PSA 7, selling for $20,400 in October 2021, and a PSA 10, selling for $80,000 in February 2022. The refractor parallels of Kobes rookie fetch much higher values, particularly in Gem Mint condition. Learn how to search faster and find your cards. The sale in early 2021 is a great illustration of just how high the markets were at the time, considering one sold that fall by the same auction house for significantly less. Continue reading to learn about the 9 most expensive Kobe Bryant cards ever sold. The one that sold at this Goldin auction was rated 9 by BGS and took in $170,400. The Playmakers Theatre inserts are gaining more momentum in the hobby recently for a few reasons. One of the set's most valuable cards is Kobe Bryant's #31 rookie card, which is part of the Legacy Collection, of which each card is serial-numbered to only 150 copies. A 2006-07 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant Refractor rookie card graded BGS 10 (black label) netted $1,795,000, a record price for any Bryant card sold at public auction. According to the auto on the card, it is serial numbered to only 8 and represents an historic moment in Kobes playoff career when he carried the Lakers to a victory in overtime versus the Indiana Pacers. So even though it is one of 126 examples known to exist, its unlikely that many others are in this condition, which is known as gem mint.. Despite the atomic refractor look of the card it is still designated as only a refractor. Moreover, the background is covered with a platinum finish, and the text also boasts a metallic gradient. The cards feature laser cut technology with pinhole-sized cutouts tracing the players silhouette. historic prices, and card details. The hologram of Brant in the lower right corner makes it obvious where this card received its name. Kobes other parallel, the Essential Credentials Now version, was serial numbered in reverse. Source: MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images / Getty, 1996-97 E-X2000 Kobe Bryant Rookie Card #30. You own: 0 / 100 items 1996-97 Topps Kobe Bryant RC #138 Buy on eBay. Kobe Bryant Basketball 1996-97 Season Sports Trading Cards & Accessories Rookie,; Topps Kobe Bryant Basketball 1996-97 Season Sports Trading Cards & Accessories, This card features Kobe going for a layup and has seen major price appreciation since his untimely death. Home; Browse . With similar pricing as a base card, its really a matter of preference for design on these two cards. With only 73 copies available, they are challenging to find; however, the Now parallels have only eight copies and are near impossible to find for sale due to collectors locking them up in vaults for permanent keeping. Kobe Bryant RC Fleer Ultra Rookie Basketball Card Lakers Purple Gold Rare #1 Raw Buy: $500.00 eBay (timo_todd) RARE KOBE BRYANT 1996-97 Fleer Rookie Purple Signature 23KT GOLD GEM MINT 10 Buy: $600.00 eBay (pastor-6406) Kobe Bryant Rookie SGC 8.5 Fleer 23k Gold Purple Facsimile Signature Lakers 1996 Grade: SGC Buy: $1,296.00 eBay (redwhiteandtrue) His Mamba Mentality is exemplified by the famous photo of him pulling his jersey. Nonetheless, while this Metal series is not as big . The main difference in the design from the regular High Voltage cards are the 500 Volts designnation on the front, along with a different refractor-like pattern when shown in the light. If youre looking for an ultimate challenge, consider hunting down the 1/1 Masterpiece edition. Alvin Goodley | July 1, 2022July 1, 2022 | Entertainment. pic.twitter.com/dTStDwavHx. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1960 Topps Set-Break # 3 Joe Adcock NR-MINT *GMCARDS* at the best online prices at eBay! A rare Kobe Bryant rookie card sold for more than $1.795 million on Saturday, "an all-time record" for any Bryant card, according to the Goldin Auctions, an online auction house. With so many great ones to choose from, how can you pick just one favorite Kobe Bryant rookie card? This sale, like others in the list, were part of a Goldin Elite Auction. Kobe Bryant. But what if there are millions stuffed away in that box? It was a pristine example of this card, a black label 10, that sold for $1.752 million at a Goldin auction, topping all similar cards that have come before. Toggle navigation. The 20-card set features notable players such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille ONeal, Tim Duncan (RC), Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, and Kobe Bryant. Since this card does have a more iconic design than its series 2 counterpart, I would expect it to fetch top sale price, but the $100k+ price tag does seem excessive. A BGS 9.5, gem mint condition example sold for $69,000 in November 2022. The death of Kobe Bryant January 26, 2020, was heart-breaking, traumatic, and still to this day hard to believe. Kobes seen driving to the basket with clouds in his backdrop. This card really hits the trifecta of collecting. $13.99 + $0.99 shipping. Discovery Company. Due to a low supply and high demand, the value of Kobe Bryants Precious Metal Gems parallel from the 97 Metal Universe set is priceless. Things like basketball cards end up stuffed away in your parents garage with the rest of the junk you didnt take to college. For instance, the Kobe Bryant card belongs to the Supernatural Subset, the same as Michael Jordans. The set contains 20 electric players of the late 90s, including Jordan, Pippen, Malone, Rodman, Iverson, Garnett, and Kobe. The card known as the UD Trilogy Trimarks 2 Lebron James/Kobe Bryant/Michael Jordan Signed Card was released in a very limited set of 10 cards. Please comment at the end of the article and let us know what Kobe Bryant basketball card you think should be on this list. One of Kobes most iconic, yet attainable rookie cards is the 1996-97 Topps card. Even more valuable are Refractor parallels, which fall 1:12 packs, on average. Mar 7, 2021 A Kobe Bryant rookie card sold for $1,795,800 at auction on Saturday, the most expensive for a card of the Lakers legend and one of the most expensive for a basketball card. He played with intensity and a determination that you just don't see too often. Judging by the grades PSA is giving these inserts, they must be very prone to chipping as a majority of the cards were given a PSA 8 Near Mint designation. On 1/3/2021 a PSA 9 sold for $16,888. PSA graded fifteen of Kobes Fusion basketball cards, with five grading gem mint 10, six mint 9, three NM-MT 8, and one authenticated. It's one of only two ever rated at that level by Beckett. Bryant appeared in two separate cards for the series and one is slightly more valuable than the other. If we're talking green, the most expensive Kobe Bryant cards are: 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Emerald - $2 million 1996-1997 Topps Chrome Rookie Refractor (BGS Black Label) - $1.8 million Regarding importance, all Kobe basketball cards are valuable, and each card is worth the money. The #203 Star Ruby card has a PSA 10 population of 18. These include #1 (Charles Barkley), #23 (Michael Jordan), #50 (Shaquille ONeal), and #20 (Allen Iverson). . This card also has a semi-transparent acetate material, which can cause chipping of the coloring along the edges making it near impossible to pull a mint condition card even from a pack. Despite the high sale prices of these elite versions, you can still pick up lesser grades of the same designs in the base Flair, making for a great Kobe rookie card to add to your collection. Contents hide 1 Most Valuable Kobe Bryant Rookie Cards 1.1 1996 Skybox E-X2000 Credentials and Base #30 Kobe Bryant 1.2 1996 Flair Showcase Legacy Collection Row 0 & 1 #31 Kobe Bryant 1.3 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor #138 Kobe Bryant Getting your hands on a Kobe Bryant basketball card might not be as hard as you think. This particular Kobe Bryant rookie card doesnt have any of the premium elements as the card above, but its still one of the most popular cards on the market. On 5/24/2021 a PSA 10 sold for $221,400. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much On 12/6/2021 a PSA 10 sold for $9,500. Since the tragedy, memorabilia for the late five-time NBA champion has been showing up on auction sites. With 1996 being the inaugural year of Topps Chrome, this card is sometimes referred to as Kobes flagship rookie. The base version of the card as well as the scarce "Gold Medallion" and scarcer "Platinum Medallion" parallels all used the same imagery but are easily distinguished by the text coloration on the front. Try a more specific search to refine the results. On 3/12/2022 a PSA 10 sold for $13,200. There was a gold version, which was part of a set that appeared in just one of every 2,500 packs. Lastly, the 15-card set is loaded with collectible players, including Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Shaquille ONeal, and Scottie Pippen. The bronze-colored "Apprentices" subset in 1996 Finest also came with refractor parallels and this one isn't cheap in top grade. A pair of LeBron James cards sold for over $2.8 million combined. Login. The Essential Credentials Future cards had a unique serial numbering system where the card number was equal to the print run. 12 Most Expensive Restaurants in Philadelphia, 10 Most Expensive Camera Lenses You Can Ever Buy, Finest Gold Refractor Kobe Bryant Rookie Card. Although this is an early Prizm Gold card and will certainly be a grail for some card owners, this particular sale seems a bit high. Because of the oval die-cut shape, the Jambalaya card doesnt have corners, which makes them easier to find in near-perfect conditions. The highest Kobe Bryant rookie card sale came from this set at a price shy of $1.8 million at an auction. This card comes with a steep price tag and on eBay will run you anywhere from $1000 -$6500, depending on the seller. Bilal Morris is the senior editor at NewsOne. Today we're paging through an old Beckett Basketball Card Monthly magazine!This one is from August 2001, and it's a cool one with a flip cover featuring Kobe. The highest grade of the card is a Mint 9 (only 2), and only 11 have ever been graded by PSA. This card has a PSA 10 population of 0, which isnt surprising since the typically came with chipping along the high gloss edges straight out of the pack. According to eBay, just two weeks after Kobe Bryants death, his basketball cards increased in sales by 600%. Cards #1-30 were inserted at 1:16 packs, while cards #31-50 were limited to 250. These Star Ruby cards are also serial numbered to only 50, making them more rare than the previous year. Fleer Ultra continued with its rare Platinum Medallion parallel in 1997, this time the cards were serial numbered to just 100. The E-X2000 Credentials Kobe Bryant Rookie Card is a limited-edition card in a set of 499 examples. These packs cost $2,000 each, but the chance at a Kobe Bryant proved to be incentive enough to try! Set#: KB1/KB2. It is numbered as the 442nd card in its set. CNNs Jill Martian contributed to this report. This article will cover the best Kobe Bryant rookie cards from the 90s. Golden Touch die-cut inserts are found in 1:360 packs from series 2 boxes. This particular #AP-KB is serial numbered to 100 and has a PSA 10 population of just 1. A BGS 8.5 example recently sold at auction in October 2022 for $3,916. setTimeout( function() { While examples can have asking prices of $150,000 or more, they usually sell for around $32,500, making them one of the most coveted Kobe cards, regardless of condition. The most recent auction for a Star Rubies Kobe Bryant from the 1997 set was for a PSA 6 example. On eBay, the cards are listed at $360-$900. However, in February 2022, a collector decided to let their PSA 8 example go up for auction and chose Goldin Auction as the auction house. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are the two most prominent names in the set. The hefty price tag made the card one of the most expensive basketball. Parallel cards have a reflective coating on them that Panini calls Prizm. Other brands usually call this refractor. Prizm has both gold and silver Prizm, denoted by the color of the shiny border around the photo. The bids started at $250,000. It can be found in 1996 Fleer Ultra Series 2 hobby boxes. The most expensive Kobe Bryant card was the 1996-1997 Topps Chrome Rookie Refractor (BGS Black Label), selling for $1.75 million. The base version is expensive in its own right but its the refractor parallel whose prices are off the charts. Moreover, Fleer included Intimidation Nation cards in their 98 football set, creating more awareness and collectability. It might seem odd that such a low grade would go for such a high price, but there are a few good reasons for this. Because of the scarcity, impressive design, and legendary player list, High Voltage 500 cards are highly collectible and valuable. If one ever came up for auction, it would easily reach 6-figures, perhaps 7-figures. We may earn an affiliate commission if you On 4/6/2021 a PSA 9 sold for $157,200. Each player had only one card per row. However, because they are so rare, any player is considered valuable. He will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest NBA players of all time. Below are the current SMR Price Guide value ranges for some of Kobe's best rookie cards and some others that have been graded at the high end (8-10) by PSA (keep in mind the hot market means these prices may be obsolete by the time you read this): 1996-97 Topps Chrome #138: $400 - $3,000 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor $3,750 - $20,000 Because of the foil-type finish, they are often found with soft corners and edge wear, resulting in a lower grade. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Because there are many Hall of Fame players in the set, prices can get competitive due to collectors wanting to complete the set. Mystery Sports Card Packs! The Makings Of Black Mamba: Kobe Bryant Through The Years, Your email will be shared with newsone.com and subject to its, Video Shows Memphis Cops Beating Black Inmate To Death, Family Demands Justice, Black Folklore In Video Episode 3: Seneca Village, Will Damar Hamlin Play Football Again? So, the Championship PMGs are much rarer. It is Serial Numbered to 500, and there is a base insert version of this card as well, only it is more common and not serial numbered. Because of the vibrant design, heavy foil finish, incredible artwork, unmatched player photos, and limited print run, PMGs have hobbyists worldwide wanting to add these to their collections. The card, which was sold through the PWCC Marketplace,is one of the most desirable of all time. While rarity certainly creates scarcity and drives up value, I also think the design makes it highly sought after and can be seen in the high values of the base version compared to other Kobe rookies which have similar populations of gem mint copies. The Row 2 or "Style" Legacy Collection parallel is another extremely valuable card from that set. This card was only released in 10 examples (this one is numbered #03). Some reputable sellers have it listed for $1259, but there are significantly lower bids on some auctions starting at $180 .