Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC
1996-97 Topps Chrome Basketball · #138
Values as of Sep 26, 2026 in USD. Market price = median of at least 5 qualifying sales of this exact version and grade in the last 90 days. Methodology
Sales history
| Date | Version | Grade | Price | Venue | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 2026 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 40700019 | $3,500 | eBay auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 26628782 | $6,000 | eBay best offer | Cross-checked | Open |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Base | PSA 10 · cert 07074999 | $8,988 | eBay auction | Verified | Open |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Base | PSA 10 · cert 44632702 | $9,780 | eBay auction | Verified | Open |
| Apr 26, 2023 | Refractor | PSA 10 · cert 06037925 | $102,000 | Goldin Auctions auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Aug 28, 2022 | Refractor | PSA 10 · cert 09063839 | $156,000 | Heritage Auctions auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Mar 6, 2021 | Refractor | BGS 10 Black Label | $1,795,800 | Goldin Auctions auction | Excluded | Open |
Verified: an editor or automated check confirmed the figure on the source page. Cross-checked: an independent second research pass reopened the source and confirmed it. Reported: cited by research but not re-checked; never used in metrics. 1 sale was excluded (reasons on hover). Asking prices are never listed here.
Price chart
Base · PSA 10
Base · PSA 9
Refractor · PSA 10
Graded population
| Version | Grader | Grade | Count | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | PSA | 10 | 840 | Sep 26, 2026 | Open |
| Base | PSA | 9 | 4,235 | Sep 26, 2026 | Open |
| Refractor | PSA | 10 | 63 | Sep 26, 2026 | Open |
| Refractor | PSA | 9 | 288 | Sep 26, 2026 | Open |
Population counts copies graded by one company in one grade. It is not a print run and it grows with every submission. Why population is not print run
Grading math for this card
Prefilled with the latest qualifying sale for each grade where one exists. Replace any value with your own. We never suggest what grade your copy will get.
Formula from Grading: condition, uncertainty, and economics: grading pays only if your honest chance of the high grade exceeds (raw net + cost − other-outcome net) ÷ (high-grade net − other-outcome net). The 13% fee is an editable assumption, not a quoted tariff.
About Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC
The 1996-97 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant #138 is a widely searched modern basketball rookie card. Collectors search both the base Chrome card and the Refractor, but those are separate markets with different populations and sales histories.
Why this card matters
Verified factPSA cert data identifies the base issue as 1996 Topps Chrome #138 Kobe Bryant, and PSA CardFacts separately catalogs the Refractor version. The card is searched because it is one of Bryant’s most recognizable rookie-year Chrome issues, with both base and Refractor demand. The Refractor’s high-grade market is materially different from the base card; PSA CardFacts shows only 63 PSA 10 Refractors compared with 840 PSA 10 base examples on the opened pages. [1][2][3]
Identifying the exact version
Verified factIdentify whether the card is paper Topps, Topps Chrome base, or Topps Chrome Refractor before using any comp. For this page the target is Chrome #138, not paper Topps #138. PSA’s base cert page lists year 1996, brand Topps Chrome, subject Kobe Bryant, and card number 138. PSA CardFacts for the Refractor uses a separate card page and population table. That separation is the minimum standard before comparing PSA 9, PSA 10, BGS Pristine, or raw listings. [1][2][3]
What moves the price between versions and grades
Verified factThe sourced base PSA CardFacts page shows base PSA 10 sales of $8,988 on April 27, 2026 and $9,780 on January 26, 2026, while the base PSA 9 cert page shows September 2026 PSA 9 sales between $3,499.84 and $6,000. The Refractor page shows a PSA 10 Refractor sale of $156,000 on August 28, 2022 and a PSA 10 Refractor price table entry of $102,000. Base and Refractor should not be blended. [1][2][3]
Authenticity checks
AnalysisCompare the card to the exact Topps Chrome or Topps Chrome Refractor reference, including front finish, back text, card number, color, stock, corners, edges, and surface. Early Chrome cards can have condition issues visible only under angled light, so photos should include front, back, corners, and reflective surfaces. For slabs, match the cert, grade, label, and holder details, but do not assume a copied cert proves the item. Avoid destructive tests and never clean, recolor, trim, or press a card being represented as original. [1][2][3]
Telling the versions apart
| Version | How to identify it |
|---|---|
| Base | Standard 1996 Topps Chrome #138 Kobe Bryant with no Refractor finish. |
| Refractor | Refractor parallel of the same #138 card; PSA catalogs it separately from the base Topps Chrome card. |
What people get wrong about this card
Based on the claims our guides decline to adopt: Risk and strategy · Case studies and corrections
Frequently asked questions
How much is a PSA 10 1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant #138 base worth?
How much is a PSA 9 base worth?
How many PSA 10 base copies exist?
How many PSA 10 Refractors exist?
What is a sourced Refractor PSA 10 sale?
Sources
- PSA Cert Verification 01070308: 1996 Topps Chrome #138 Kobe Bryant — PSA (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
- 1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant Refractor #138 PSA CardFacts — PSA (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
- 1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant #138 PSA CardFacts — PSA (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
- Goldin Auctions Posts Largest Ever Sports Memorabilia & Collectibles Auction with $45.2 Million in Sales — Auction Report (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
Not yet established
- A primary Goldin lot page for the BGS Black Label sale was not opened; the record is supported here by a reputable report page from the search corpus.
- No official Topps production quantity was found.
Research: Codex research pass (live web) · automated source checks · independent cross-check · generated Sep 26, 2026 · awaiting editor review · updated Sep 26, 2026. Found an error? Report it.