Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC
1996-97 Topps Chrome Basketball · #138
Key facts
- CardVolume lists 25 verified sales of the 1996-97 Topps Chrome Basketball Kobe Bryant #138 as of November 11, 2026.
- The Base PSA 9 market price is $4,200, the median of 5 verified sales between September 14, 2026 and September 25, 2026.
- The highest verified sale on record is $500,000 for a Refractor PSA 10 on February 3, 2021 at eBay.
- The graded market value of tracked grades (market price × graded population) is $17,787,000.
Updated · Only verified or cross-checked sales count · How we verify · Data: Markdown, JSON
Email me when a new verified sale posts. Prices and sales stay public. Forever.
Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC #138 (Base, PSA 10): last verified sale $8,988 on Apr 27, 2026 (eBay). Not enough verified sales in the last 90 days for a market price. Source: CardVolume, cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1996-topps-chrome-kobe-bryant-138/, as of Nov 11, 2026.
Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC #138 (Base, PSA 9): $4,200 market price, median of 5 verified sales between Sep 14, 2026 and Sep 25, 2026 (range $3,500–$6,000). Source: CardVolume, cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1996-topps-chrome-kobe-bryant-138/, as of Nov 11, 2026.
Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC #138 (Refractor, PSA 10): last verified sale $152,500 on Jun 29, 2026 (Goldin Auctions). Not enough verified sales in the last 90 days for a market price. Source: CardVolume, cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1996-topps-chrome-kobe-bryant-138/, as of Nov 11, 2026.
Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC #138 (Base, PSA 8): last verified sale $1,600 on Apr 16, 2026 (eBay). Not enough verified sales in the last 90 days for a market price. Source: CardVolume, cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1996-topps-chrome-kobe-bryant-138/, as of Nov 11, 2026.
Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC #138 (Base, PSA 7): last verified sale $1,600 on Jul 27, 2026 (eBay). Not enough verified sales in the last 90 days for a market price. Source: CardVolume, cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1996-topps-chrome-kobe-bryant-138/, as of Nov 11, 2026.
Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC #138 (Refractor, PSA 9): last verified sale $30,100 on Jun 23, 2026 (eBay). Not enough verified sales in the last 90 days for a market price. Source: CardVolume, cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1996-topps-chrome-kobe-bryant-138/, as of Nov 11, 2026.
Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC #138 (Refractor, PSA 8): last verified sale $33,156 on Mar 16, 2021 (eBay). Not enough verified sales in the last 90 days for a market price. Source: CardVolume, cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1996-topps-chrome-kobe-bryant-138/, as of Nov 11, 2026.
Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC #138 (Refractor, PSA 7): last verified sale $30,000 on Apr 4, 2021 (eBay). Not enough verified sales in the last 90 days for a market price. Source: CardVolume, cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1996-topps-chrome-kobe-bryant-138/, as of Nov 11, 2026.
Values as of Nov 11, 2026 in USD. Market price = median of at least 5 qualifying sales of this exact version and grade in the last 90 days. Methodology
Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome RC price by grade
| Version | Grade | Price | Basis | Verified sales | Last sale | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | PSA 10 | $9,780 | median of the last 3 sales | 3 | $8,988 · Apr 27, 2026 | $10,600 |
| Base | PSA 9 | $4,200 | 90-day median of 5 sales | 8 | $3,500 · Sep 25, 2026 | $6,000 |
| Refractor | PSA 10 | $152,500 | median of the last 5 sales | 7 | $152,500 · Jun 29, 2026 | $500,000 |
| Base | PSA 8 | $1,471 | median of the last 2 sales | 2 | $1,600 · Apr 16, 2026 | $1,600 |
| Base | PSA 7 | $1,600 | last verified sale | 1 | $1,600 · Jul 27, 2026 | $1,600 |
| Refractor | PSA 9 | $74,090 | median of the last 2 sales | 2 | $30,100 · Jun 23, 2026 | $118,080 |
| Refractor | PSA 8 | $33,156 | last verified sale | 1 | $33,156 · Mar 16, 2021 | $33,156 |
| Refractor | PSA 7 | $30,000 | last verified sale | 1 | $30,000 · Apr 4, 2021 | $30,000 |
Price: the 90-day market price where there is one (median of at least 5 verified sales), otherwise the median of the last 5 verified sales. Each version and grade is priced on its own; nothing is averaged across grades.
Sales history
Export CSVPrices and sales stay public. Forever. CSV export needs a free account.
| Date | Version | Grade | Price | Venue | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 2026 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 40700019 | $3,500 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Shown in PSA sales history. | Cross-checked | Open |
| Sep 21, 2026 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 08040345 | $4,200 | eBay best offer | Cross-checked | Open |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 06180238 | $5,000 | eBay best offer | Cross-checked | Open |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 26628782 | $6,000 hammer, excl. premium | eBay best offer Shown in PSA sales history. | Cross-checked | Open |
| Sep 14, 2026 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 27945358 | $4,080 | Fanatics Collect auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Jul 27, 2026 | Base | PSA 7 · cert 129380510 | $1,600 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Lot 366544306510 | Cross-checked | Open |
| Jun 29, 2026 | Refractor | PSA 10 · cert 08016783 | $152,500 incl. buyer's premium | Goldin Auctions auction Lot 202603-1918-5453-d2aa4baa-0dcf-410a-8070-87320bfaa91d | Cross-checked | Open |
| Jun 29, 2026 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 01102543 | $2,650 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Lot 267702113093 | Cross-checked | Open |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Refractor | PSA 9 · cert 08148323 | $30,100 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Lot 178215927760 | Cross-checked | Open |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Base | PSA 10 · cert 07074999 | $8,988 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction PSA CardFacts Auction Prices Realized. | Verified | Open |
| Apr 16, 2026 | Base | PSA 8 · cert 150678564 | $1,600 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Lot 206200317744 | Cross-checked | Open |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 30400729 | $2,659 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Lot 389735760477 | Cross-checked | Open |
| Mar 2, 2026 | Base | PSA 8 · cert 142403704 | $1,341 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Lot 267580954297 | Cross-checked | Open |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Base | PSA 10 · cert 44632702 | $9,780 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction PSA CardFacts Auction Prices Realized. | Verified | Open |
| Dec 17, 2025 | Base | PSA 9 · cert 03118020 | $1,496 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Lot 236516973042 | Cross-checked | Open |
| Dec 16, 2025 | Base | PSA 10 · cert 07052578 | $10,600 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Lot 187813006850 | Cross-checked | Open |
| Apr 26, 2023 | Refractor | PSA 10 · cert 06037925 | $102,000 hammer, excl. premium | Goldin Auctions auction PSA CardFacts Auction Prices Realized. | Cross-checked | Open |
| Aug 28, 2022 | Refractor | PSA 10 · cert 09063839 | $156,000 hammer, excl. premium | Heritage Auctions auction PSA CardFacts Auction Prices Realized; buyer premium not stated on PSA page. | Cross-checked | Open |
| May 21, 2022 | Refractor | PSA 10 · cert 12280040 | $156,000 | Goldin Auctions auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Aug 11, 2021 | Refractor | PSA 10 · cert 21041692 | $134,400 | Goldin Auctions auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Jun 29, 2021 | Refractor | PSA 10 · cert 06124602 | $135,300 | Goldin Auctions auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Apr 4, 2021 | Refractor | PSA 7 · cert 57854484 | $30,000 hammer, excl. premium | eBay best offer Lot 224410236831. Reported as a record for this grade | Cross-checked | Open |
| Mar 16, 2021 | Refractor | PSA 8 · cert 21663261 | $33,156 hammer, excl. premium | eBay auction Lot 373485784913. Reported as a record for this grade | Cross-checked | Open |
| Mar 7, 2021 | Refractor | PSA 9 · cert 50008363 | $118,080 incl. buyer's premium | Goldin Auctions auction Lot 146. Reported as a record for this grade | Cross-checked | Open |
| Mar 6, 2021 | Refractor | BGS 10 Black Label | $1,795,800 hammer, excl. premium | Goldin Auctions auction AuctionReport reported Goldin sale of BGS Pristine/Black Label 10; buyer premi… | Excluded | Open |
| Feb 3, 2021 | Refractor | PSA 10 · cert 08013412 | $500,000 hammer, excl. premium | eBay best offer Lot 224334544542. Reported as a record for this grade | Cross-checked | 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
Base · PSA 8
Base · PSA 7
Fewer than two qualifying sales for PSA 7; no chart.
Refractor · PSA 9
Refractor · PSA 8
Fewer than two qualifying sales for PSA 8; no chart.
Refractor · PSA 7
Fewer than two qualifying sales for PSA 7; no chart.
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.
Compare grading math across cards · 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 · reviewed by CardVolume editorial (owner-approved) on Sep 26, 2026 · updated Sep 28, 2026. Found an error? Report it.