A rare Precious Metal Gems Kobe Bryant card has sold for $2 million USD, officially becoming the most expensive Kobe card to hit the market.
The 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Emerald Kobe Bryant card was brokered last week via PWCC Marketplace. One of only 10 in existence, the card received an 8.5 grade and was confirmed by Jesse Craig, Director of Business Development at PWCC, as the card with the highest grade to exist, “with only one other BGS 8.5 in the world.” The piece is considered rare due to its Emerald variation and the card’s design, which changed how manufacturers “approached ‘insert’ style cards that offer alternatives to the base player cards one typically expects to find in a pack.”
Craig shared that the this is “arguably Kobe’s best card in existence,” adding, “It’s more desirable than even a Kobe Bryant rookie card or a Kobe Bryant autograph.” He continued, “These Precious Metal Gems variants are arguably the most desired insert card in the entire world. “These set the tone for the insert market going forward. It’s just incredibly difficult to find them in any condition, and because of their delicate nature, to find one in such good condition is incredibly rare.”
“The buyer here collects only the best players, and this price is driven both by the quality of card and by the reverence for Kobe Bryant. We’re now a few years removed from his tragic passing and people are starting to reflect on what he meant to the game and the culture of the sport. Simply put, he’s easily in the discussion for one of the greatest players of all-time and has a devoted following across the globe. His assets are likely to continue to see a rise in demand as people continue to seek a way to own a part of history and connect with one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen play the game.”
The 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Emerald Kobe Bryant card overtook the 1996-1997 Kobe Bryant rookie card that sold for $1.795 million USD at Goldin Auctions in March 2021.
In other Kobe news, Kevin Lynch unveiled “The Kobe Bryant Experience” NFT collection.
Tagged: gaming