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Last Updated On: December 8th, 2023
Basketball card collectors are drawn to Michael Jordan gold cards for a few reasons. One reason is that they are visually appealing and have a unique look due to their gold border or refractor-like aesthetic appeal. The features can help make the card stand out and add a level of distinction.
Another reason is that they are often produced in limited quantities, such as numbered to just 10 or 50 copies, or SP (“short print“), which makes them rare and valuable. When there are fewer copies of a card available, collectors are willing to pay a premium for them which can increase their value over time.
In this post, we will highlight some of the best Michael Jordan gold cards in the marketplace, including cards produced by prestigious brands such as Upper Deck, Topps Finest and Skybox. We’ve included rare inserts, parallels such as gold refractors, and of course eye-catching Michael Jordan autographed cards.
Table of Contents
Michael Jordan Gold Cards
1. 1996-97 Topps Finest Gold Refractor Michael Jordan #291
Kicking off our top Michael Jordan gold cards is the 1996 Topps Finest Gold Refractor #291. This MJ card comes with a peel on the card when pulled from Topps Finest wax packs. The peel is intended to protect the card’s surface, although it can make it look pretty dull when compared with having the peel removed. Collectors have long debated whether to peel or not to peel, although the card is valued at a higher price in its original condition, with peel intact.
This 1996 MJ card currently sells for between $3,000 and $5,000 in PSA 8 NM-MT or PSA 9 MINT condition.
Note: there is also a base card that is not a refractor. While still limited in quantity, the base card is more widely available and runs for a few hundred dollars in raw condition, and upwards of around $1,200 in PSA 10 GEM MINT.
2. 1997-98 Finest Gold Refractor Michael Jordan #154 Numbered to /289
Topps included another popular Michael Jordan gold refractor card in the 1997 Finest release with card number 154. Two versions of the card were introduced, including the card pictured above, and a die-cut embossed version limited to just 74 copies. A base version of the card was also included in the set which is not numbered, including a die-cut embossed version as well.
As was customary in the late 1990’s, Topps Finest basketball cards came with the peel coating on the card by default. The PSA population report database keeps track of the quantities graded for each in separate counts.
The 1997 Finest #154 card is valued around $1,500 for a BGS 8 NM-MT condition copy.
The embossed gold refractor is valued much higher, cracking five digits consistently when it sells with the last PSA 9 MINT copy fetching $52,800 in December, 2022 (via CardLadder sales tracking).
3. 1995-96 Topps Finest Mystery Borderless Gold Refractor Michael Jordan #M1
The 1995 Topps Finest Mystery product included several MJ cards, including the borderless gold refractor pictured above. The set also includes an orange-bordered variant with the same number, M1.
Currently the 1995 Topps Finest Mystery Borderless Gold Refractor Michael Jordan #M1 sells for around $1,000 in PSA 9 MINT condition.
4. 2002-03 Topps Pristine Gold Refractor Michael Jordan #4 Numbered to /50
The Topps Pristine brand isn’t a super popular Topps brand, at least relative to Chrome or Finest. But the Topps Pristine MJ gold refractor is special as it is the only card highlighted in this post with Michael Jordan wearing a Washington Wizards jersey. The card is serially numbered to just 50 copies, so it rarely comes up for sale given its limited quantity. There is also a die-cut version of the card numbered to 99; somewhat rare to see Topps create more versions of the die-cut version versus the non-die-cut version.
The 2002 Topps Pristine Gold Refractor Michael Jordan #4 is valued around $2,200 in BGS 9.5 GEM MINT condition, with the last sale almost reaching $2,300 via eBay auction (February, 2023).
By comparison, the die-cut version numbered to /99 last sold for $4,557 on March 3rd, 2023 in PSA 10 GEM MINT condition. Obviously apples to oranges comparing a PSA 10 versus a BGS 9.5 grade, but a fair comp to use nonetheless.
5. 1996-97 Skybox Premium Golden Touch Michael Jordan #5
A popular high-end insert, the 1996 Skybox Premium Golden Touch Michael Jordan #5 is a pretty tough pull, with the odds of nailing a Jordan at 1 in 2,400 packs. There are 10 total players in the Golden Touch set, with the pack odds at just 1 in 240 packs for any random player.
The 1996 Golden Touch MJ card consistently sells around $1,000 to $1,500 in PSA 8 NM-MT or PSA 9 MINT condition.
6. 1997-98 Fleer Ultra Stars Gold Michael Jordan #1
Easily one of Michael Jordan’s most valuable cards, the 1997 Fleer Ultra Stars Gold insert #1 is an iconic, high-end MJ collectible. It is super rare, with a combined population of just 83 total cards graded between PSA and BGS. It is featured as one of our top 10 MJ Fleer Inserts of the 1990s.
The last recorded sale of the 1997 Ultra Stars Gold Michael Jordan was in January, 2023, at a whopping $43,200 at Goldin Auctions.
7. 1997-98 SPx Die-Cut Gold Michael Jordan #5
The 1997 SPx Die-Cut Gold Michael Jordan #5 card is a beautiful horizontal, hologram card. While not numbered, the graded population of this card includes 372 total copies graded across PSA, BGS, and also SGC card grading companies. Only 27 cards are assessed GEM MINT condition.
Relative to many other MJ cards in this list, the SPx die-cut card sells for a semi-reasonable few hundred dollars all the way up to around $1,000 in BGS 9.5 GEM MINT condition.
8. 1997-98 SPx Gold Die-Cut Michael Jordan #6
Lucky for Michael Jordan card collectors, SPx was kind enough to release issue #6 within the 1997 SPx basketball card release. A vertical die-cut card, card #6 looks like a record label with hologram-like features. SPx included several versions of the card, including the Base, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Sky, and Grand Finale (the rarest variant numbered to just /50).
The 1997 SPx Gold Michael Jordan Die-Cut card #6 sold at PWCC auctions for $2,160 in January, 2023. The super rare Grand Finale sold for a monster $50,400 in BGS 8.5 NM-MT+ condition in January as well.
9. 1995-96 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion Michael Jordan #25
The 1995-96 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion #25 is covered entirely in gold foil except for Jordan’s image. It’s also an accessible card, with many sales completed each month at eBay and other auction houses.
The card sells for a few hundred bucks in MINT condition, and tops $4,000 in PSA 10 GEM MINT condition given only 25 copies exist in perfect condition.
10. 1997-98 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion Michael Jordan #23G
Similar to the 1995, and 1996 Fleer Ultra Basketball sets, Fleer released the 1997 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion Michael Jordan #23G card. It is also covered in gold as with the 1995 version, except with a textured foil finish.
The 1997 Medallion runs for just $200 in PSA 9 MINT condition, and $2,100 in PSA 10 GEM MINT.
Michael Jordan Upper Deck Gold Cards
This section highlights several of the most popular Michael Jordan gold cards produced by the Upper Deck brand. There are many products under the Upper Deck umbrella, including Collector’s Choice, Upper Deck Black, Upper Deck SP, and Upper Deck Encore, to name a few. We will cover a few of the higher end Michael Jordan gold cards, along with Upper Deck some of the more popular Upper Deck MJ autographed cards included in the section that follows.
11. 1998-99 Upper Deck Super Powers Quantum Gold Michael Jordan #PS30 Numbered to /50
Of the many Michael Jordan Upper Deck gold cards, the 1998 UD Super Powers #PS30 card is one that rarely surfaces at auction houses. With a print run of just 50 copies, the serially numbered card has only sold six times in the last four years according to CardLadder data.
A PSA 8 NM-MT condition copy most recently sold for $1,140 in January, 2023 via Goldin Auctions.
12. 2003-04 Upper Deck Triple Dimensions Reflections Gold Michael Jordan #5 Numbered to /50
The Triple Dimensions basketball cards product by Upper Deck was not terribly popular, as 2003 was the sole year it was produced. Even so, any product that features rare Michael Jordan cards is going to be sought after by collectors. The 2003 Upper Deck Triple Dimensions Reflections Gold Michael Jordan #5 is a refractor-like parallel, limited to just /50 cards produced.
A BGS 9.5 GEM MINT copy of the card last sold for $8,100 via PWCC auctions back in October, 2022. Given the rarity of this parallel, it is seldom seen available for sale.
13. 1995-96 Upper Deck SP All-Stars Gold Die-Cut Michael Jordan #AS2
The 1995 Upper Deck SP All-Stars Gold Die-Cut Michael Jordan #AS2 is not a rare card, as the randomly inserted cards are part of a 24-card set randomly inserted at one in every five packs. Even so, PSA has only ever graded 169 total copies, with just 26 receiving a PSA 10 GEM MINT assessment.
Speaking of the PSA 10 version of the 1995 SP All-Stars Michael Jordan Gold card, the last sale on record went for $1,980 in February, 2023, at Goldin Auctions. A BGS 9.5 GEM MINT went for a much more reasonable $452 at Goldin in March, 2023, as well.
Michael Jordan Gold Autograph Cards
Michael Jordan autographed cards will always be in enormous demand amongst sports card collectors. Upper Deck and several other major card brands didn’t take long to notice that Michael Jordan’s autograph on a serially numbered card — especially low print gold variants — are a real consistent way sell more basketball cards.
The following Michael Jordan Gold Autograph cards are just a few of the many autographed cards in the marketplace for the world’s finest basketball player.
14. 2007-08 Upper Deck Chronology Gold Michael Jordan Autograph #69 Numbered to /10
The Upper Deck Chronology brand produced some iconic autographed cards. Even years after Jordan’s final retirement from basketball, Upper Deck included the 2007 Chronology Gold Michael Jordan Autograph card #69 (pictured above), and a second card which we’ll discuss next. This beautiful red-bordered variant features MJ in his rookie year jersey and is limited to just 10 copies. With the stroke of a pen, the blue-ink auto boosts the value of this card by thousands of dollars.
A BGS 9 MINT copy recently sold at PWCC’s premier auction for a hefty $15,000 in March, 2023. Unsurprisingly, it’s rare to find one as many diehard Jordan card collectors keep it stored away permanently.
15. 2007-08 Upper Deck Chronology Gold Michael Jordan Autograph #136 Numbered to /10
The second 1997 Chronology Gold auto featured here also came in the 1997 Upper Deck Chronology set. Card #136 depicts Jordan in the middle of his free-throw line slam dunk in a horizontally viewed card. This card #136 is limited to just /10 copies, although a black-bordered version also exists numbered to /99.
The Gold MJ autograph card last sold in October, 2022, for $25,200 in BGS 9 MINT condition. It’s counterpart — serially numbered to /99 — did a respectable $9,600 in PSA 8 NM-MT condition at PWCC in April, 2023.
16. 1998-99 Upper Deck SP Authentic Sign of the Times Gold Michael Jordan Autograph #MJ
The 1998 Upper Deck SP Authentic Sign of the Times #MJ card was released in the same year MJ would win his sixth and final NBA championship. This limited print Michael Jordan Gold card is die-cut, with a horizontal blue-ink autograph plastered on the right side of the card. Seldom seen, a BGS 9 MINT copy sold for a healthy $28,800 at Goldin Auctions in December, 2022.
17. 2003-04 Upper Deck SP Signature Edition Gold Michael Jordan Autograph #AS-MJ Numbered to /50
The 2003 SP Signature Edition Gold Michael Jordan Auto #AS-MJ card was released the same year LeBron James would start his legendary career as a rookie out of high school, while MJ would hang up his shoes and retire from the NBA. This card from Upper Deck features Michael Jordan on a horizontal card, with a crystal clear autograph in the center. It is numbered to only /50 copies.
A BGS 9 MINT copy of this 2003 auto sold for $8,400 in February, 2023 at PWCC Auctions.
Summary
Michael Jordan gold cards are considered some of the most coveted and prized cards among collectors. As this post has detailed, many MJ inserts, parallels, and autographed cards feature gold-like borders, foil, or refractor shine, which adds to their overall appeal. The limited production quantities and rarity make them especially valuable additions to any sports card collection. Keep an eye out for these amazing cards and add a touch of gold to your collection!