The dizzying amount of money being tossed at sports cards continues unabated.
Saturday night, another modern card joined the seven-figure club when a 2013-14 Panini Prizm Giannis Antetokounmpo Black Mosaic 1/1 rookie card was purchased for over $1.1 million at Goldin Auctions. It’s the most ever paid for an unsigned modern era trading card.
That was just one of a pile of modern and vintage cards trading cards that sold for record prices over the weekend as five auction houses battled for bidders in a wild weekend of auction frenzy.
Another Antetokounmpo rookie card–a 2013/14 National Treasures Rookie Auto Patch (#54/99)–one of three graded PSA 10–sold for $553,500.
Goldin’s multi-session auction also saw a 2009-10 Panini National Treasures Century Gold Steph Curry rated 9.5 by Beckett Grading Services soar to over $600,000–the highest price every paid for a Curry item of any kind.
While cards from all sports are hot, basketball has been an inferno, with new bidders, apparently well-financed, driving prices to unprecedented levels at a stunningly rapid pace.
A PSA 10 copy of Michael Jordan’s 1986-87 Fleer rookie card, readily available for a little over $20,000 just two years ago, sold for $211,000 through Goldin.
The purchase came less than a week after two other Jordan rookies had sold for around $150,000 and a third for over $133,000 in other auctions. There are 317 of them in PSA 10 holders.
A PSA 10 copy of Kobe Bryant’s 1996-97 Topps Chrome Refractor netted $137,760, the most ever paid for a first year card of the late Lakers legend.
Among a total of just over 400 copies recorded in PSA’s census reporting, barely fifteen percent have been awarded a gem mint assessment.
There was also a new record set for Jackie Robinson’s rookie card when a PSA 8 copy sold for over $400,000. Among a total population of nearly 1,400 copies recorded in PSA’s census reporting, just eight examples (just over one-half of one percent) have attained a higher, unqualified tier.
One of 25 copies of the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Mike Trout Orange Refractor autographed card, this one graded BGS 9.5, sold for $246,000.
The resurgence of trading cards extends to the collectible/gaming sector, too. Goldin set a new record for the sale of a Pokémon card when an SGC Gold Label 10 1999 1st Edition Holographic Charizard sold for $369,020.
The auction also saw a record price for a record album of any kind when the “Double Fantasy” album John Lennon signed for Mark David Chapman on the night Chapman killed the legendary musician sold for $900,000.
Buyers will pay 3% less than the listed sales prices by paying within ten days using a check, money order or wire transfer.
Related Stories:
Exquisite LeBron Rookie RPA to 99 Tops $2 Million
Acuna Jr. Rookie Brings Nearly $400,000 in Goldin Monthly Auction
Cards, Cal Collection, Brady Bonanza Headline Goldin Sale
Bryant, Jordan Jerseys, MJ Rookies Among Top Sellers in GFA Auction
Bruce Smith’s 1941 Heisman, Mantle’s Watch Top SCP Sale
Ripken, Sloan, Gola Collections, High End Cards Among Goldin Headliners
Old Mill Joe Jackson Hits $492,000; New MJ Rookie Card Record
Notes: Records for Gretzky Stick; ’52 Mantle; Kobe Jerseys to Auction; Lindor Opens His Own Set
