---
title: "2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James #78 price, verified sales and population"
url: https://cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/2003-upper-deck-exquisite-collection-lebron-james-78/
category: Sports cards
updated: 2026-09-27
as_of: 2026-09-27
source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com)
---

# 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James #78: price, verified sales and population

> The 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James #78 is a landmark modern basketball rookie patch autograph. Collectors search for it because the /99 base and /23 parallel combine rookie-year timing, autograph, patch, serial numbering, and Upper Deck Exquisite branding.

## Key facts

- CardVolume lists 3 verified sales of the 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James #78 as of September 27, 2026.
- No grade has the 5 verified sales in 90 days needed for a market price; the most recent verified sale was $2,928,000 for a Rookie Patch Autograph parallel /23 BGS 9.5/Auto 10 on June 28, 2026 at Goldin Auctions.
- The highest verified sale on record is $2,928,000 for a Rookie Patch Autograph parallel /23 BGS 9.5/Auto 10 on June 28, 2026 at Goldin Auctions.

## Market price by version and grade

Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales.

| Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population |
|---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:|
| Rookie Patch Autograph parallel /23 | BGS 9.5/Auto 10 | — | 0 | $2,928,000 (2026-06-28) | $2,928,000 (2026-06-28) | — |
| Rookie Patch Autograph /99 | PSA Authentic | — | 0 | $228,000 (2023-02-08) | $228,000 (2023-02-08) | — |
| Rookie Patch Autograph /99 | SGC 9.5 | — | 0 | $444,000 (2025-04-25) | $444,000 (2025-04-25) | — |

## Verified sales

Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass.

| Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-28 | Rookie Patch Autograph parallel /23 | BGS 9.5/Auto 10 | $2,928,000 | not stated | Goldin Auctions | [link](https://www.auctionreport.com/lebron-james-rpa-nears-3-million-ohtanis-1-of-1-chrome-superfractor-tops-2-56-million-in-goldin-100-auction/) |
| 2025-04-25 | Rookie Patch Autograph /99 | SGC 9.5 | $444,000 | included | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.fanaticscollect.com/premier/93551c0c-1010-11f0-94a3-0a58a9feac02) |
| 2023-02-08 | Rookie Patch Autograph /99 | PSA Authentic | $228,000 | included | Goldin Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/2003-upper-deck-exquisite-collection/lebron-james-autograph-patch-78/653835) |

## How to identify each version

- **Rookie Patch Autograph /99**: Card #78 Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph, serial numbered to 99; verify patch, autograph grade if present, and card grade.
- **Rookie Patch Autograph parallel /23**: Parallel version numbered to LeBron James's jersey number, /23; keep separate from the base /99 and rainbow 1/1.

**Identity note:** The /99 and /23 are distinct serial-numbered versions. Sources use both 'RPA' and 'Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph' language.

## Why this card matters

Upper Deck Exquisite introduced a premium basketball format that later collectors associate with rookie patch autographs. ESPN reported that the 2003 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection includes base Rookie Patch Autographs numbered to 99, jersey-number parallels, and a rainbow 1/1. The LeBron #78 is searched because it is his rookie-year Exquisite patch autograph, but the /99 and /23 versions must remain separate because the serial-numbered supply pools are different.

## Identifying the exact version

Record the card as 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection #78 LeBron James, then identify whether it is the /99 base RPA or the /23 parallel. Add grader, card grade, autograph grade, serial number, and patch description. A BGS 9 with autograph 10 /23 private sale is not the same comp as a BGS 8.5 /99 auction sale. Patch quality may affect buyer interest, but it should be described rather than converted into an unsourced multiplier.

## What moves the price between versions and grades

The largest observable differences come from serial-numbered variant, card grade, autograph grade, and patch appearance. ESPN reported a $5.2 million private sale for a BGS 9 /23 example in 2021, while Bleacher Report reported a $1.392 million Goldin auction result for a BGS 8.5 /99 in 2022. Those are both Exquisite LeBron RPAs, but they answer different comp questions because /23 and /99 are separate versions.

## Authenticity checks

Compare against official references; use multiple checks; avoid destructive tests; copied cert numbers exist. For this card, confirm serial numbering, patch window, autograph placement, Upper Deck branding, slab label, and any separate autograph grade. Cert lookup should be matched to actual front and back images, because PSA warns that valid cert numbers can be copied onto counterfeit inserts. For BGS slabs, use the same principle: database details do not replace physical comparison.

## Common misconceptions

- **Myth:** The /99 and /23 LeBron Exquisite RPAs are interchangeable comps. **What the evidence says:** They are separate serial-numbered versions and must be tracked separately under ch09's parallel checklist discipline.
- **Myth:** Any patch autograph automatically sells higher than any non-patch card. **What the evidence says:** ch09 warns that relic and autograph details must be researched for the exact card rather than assumed.
- **Myth:** The highest public sale is a reliable floor. **What the evidence says:** ch10 rejects one-way price claims; each sale is a dated transaction with its own buyer, seller, and market context.

## FAQ

### How much did the LeBron Exquisite RPA /23 sell for in 2021?

ESPN reported a $5,200,000 private sale for a BGS 9 /23 LeBron Exquisite RPA on 2021-04-26, with no buyer's premium reported for the private transaction [2].

### How much did a LeBron Exquisite RPA /99 BGS 8.5 sell for at Goldin?

Bleacher Report reported that a BGS 8.5 /99 example closed at $1,392,000 through Goldin on 2022-02-05 [1].

### How much did the 2025 Goldin LeBron Exquisite RPA sell for?

ESPN reported a $1,159,000 Goldin sale including buyer's premium for a /99 example graded BGS 9.5, but the opened lines did not provide an exact calendar sale date, so it is not entered as a formal sale record [3].

### How many PSA 8 LeBron Exquisite #78 /99 cards exist?

PSA CardFacts displayed a PSA 8 population of 4 as opened on 2026-09-26, but the page did not expose a separate population snapshot date [6].

### Is the /23 version the same as the /99 version?

No; the /23 is the jersey-number parallel, while the /99 is the base Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph [2,3].

### Do I need to track the autograph grade separately?

Yes; sources report separate autograph grades on major LeBron RPA sales, and that detail should stay attached to the comp [1,2].

## Sources

1. [LeBron James Exquisite Rookie Cavaliers Jersey Patch Card Sells for $1.4M at Auction](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10026011-lebron-james-exquisite-rookie-cavaliers-jersey-patch-card-sells-for-14m-at-auction) (Bleacher Report)
2. [LeBron James rookie card sells for record $5.2 million](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31342749/lebron-james-rookie-card-sells-record-52-million) (ESPN)
3. [LeBron card sells for $1.159M; Caitlin Clark card sets record](https://www.espn.ph/espn/story/_/id/44462843/lebron-card-sells-1159m-caitlin-clark-card-sets-record) (ESPN)
4. [PSA Cert Verification](https://www.psacard.com/cert) (PSA)
5. [PSA Grading Standards](https://www.psacard.com/gradingstandards) (PSA)
6. [2003 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James Autograph Patch #78](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/2003-upper-deck-exquisite-collection/lebron-james-autograph-patch-78/653835) (PSA CardFacts)

## How to cite

> 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James #78. CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/2003-upper-deck-exquisite-collection-lebron-james-78/ (accessed 2026-09-27).

Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/sports--basketball--2003-upper-deck-exquisite-collection-lebron-james-78.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/