( 
) Do you like to collect rare Michael Jordan insert cards
but are often confused by the different parallel, gold, and serial
numbered sets in the 1997-98 Topps Finest Basketball Series I & II
? If you answer yes, you will love to read this guide.
I am going to go right to the point, I am talking about the ultra rare Michael Jordan 1997 98 Topps Finest Test gold refractor with atomic refractor pattern, rumored that only 5 were ever produced.
Fact & History
History of Topps Finest Basketball Cards indicates that many error or so called test refractor cards were produced and accidently inserted into packs. After collectors spotted them rumors came about as far as how many were produced. A good example would be the 1995 96 Topps Finest Mystery Bordered Refractors Test set. Topps would not comment on the numbers produced, since these cards were not suppose to be released in the first place. Rumored in the collecting community that less than 25-75 of each player were produced. Prices skyrocketed due to the rumores and a PSA 10 Michael Jordan ended at the price of $1600 not too long ago. This is one of the things that the reader/collector should be careful about, it is true that the so called test refractor cards are rare because you do not see them that often being sold on Ebay or other online auctions. But you should be very careful if you are to invest in rumors.
Back to the main subject, I am to concentrate solely on the 1997-98 Topps Finest Gold Test Refractor card with atomic refractor patterns. 1997-98 Topps Finest Basketball Gold set came out with four different parallel sets for collectors to chase.
This regular gold card was inserted one per box or one per 24 packs, came with a plastic protective coating on the outside of the card. A Michael Jordan Gold Card # 154 has a book value of $80.
Gold refractor cards were inserted one per 288 packs, came with a plastic protector coating, and the card itself is serially numbered to only 289. A Michael Jordan gold refractor #154 and serially numbered out of 289 has a book value of $320.
Gold Embossed Die Cut cards were inserted at the rate of one per 96 packs, it does not have a plastic protective coating. I have opened several boxes, the gold and silver embossed die cut cards never came with a platic protective coating. One can see and feel the embossed card because there is the indentation in the back of the card that enables the surface in the front of the card to project outward. The card is only numbered to the set and does not have a limited serial number. A Michael Jordan embossed die cut #154 in the set has a book value of $120.
Gold Embossed Die Cut Refractor cards were inserted at the rate of one per 1,152 packs, it does not have a protective coatingbut it has the embossed indentation in the back of the card. the card has an atomic refractor pattern in both front and back of the card to differentiate itself from the regular refractor pattern. An atomic refractor pattern is the rectangular box type of pattern that can be seen in Topps Bowan Atomic Refractor sets. The cards are numbered to the set and it is also serially numbered to only 74 of each gold cards. A Michael Jordan Gold Embossed Die Cut Refractor card serially numbered to 74 has a book value of $ 1,600.
The Ultimate Find:
About 3 years ago while searching for Michael Jordan Finest Refractor cards on Ebay I came across this treasure. It is what I believe will be labeled in the future on Beckett Price Guide as the 1997 98 Finest Gold Test Refractors or 1997 98 Finest Gold Test uncut, unembossed atomic refractor card. This card has no platic protective coating, it does not have the embossed indentation in the back of the card, it is not a die cut card, it is only numbered to the set and has no limited serial number. This is probably the reason why it was mislabeled as the regular gold refractor card. The front of the card has a smaller basketball pattern background than the regular finest refractor, that is because the die cut and the die cut refractors were cut according to the outer basketball pattern of this card. The back of this card is also exactly the same as the die cut and die cut refractor card. The Master label is on the top of the card and the description of the Materful Moments is on the left side of the card instead of the right side. (see above pictures for comparison)
Rarity:
For the past 5 years I have only seen 5 of this type of cards surfacing on ebay. One was graded as an authentic error card, one was graded a BGS 9 Mint mislabeled as a gold refractor, and three others that were not graded. Most of the sellers stated that this error card was produced less than 5 cards of each player in the gold set. But again, it is only a rumor plus the fact that many collectors probably do not even know that this card existed led me to believe that there is more than 5 cards. The five Michael Jordan cards I saw averaged about $ 450 to $550 when sold on Ebay. Just imagine how much collectors will speculate if the real number came out less than 74.
Speculation:
Topps will not comment on how many of each cards were produced because if they were really test refractors like the 1995-96 Finest Mystery Bordered Test Refractors they were not supposed to be released in the first place. In my personal opinion, similar to many error cards produced by Topps throughout the years. This one was to be printed as the Gold Embossed Die Cut Refractor card but was misplaced throughout the printing process. Therefore, it was not cut nor was it serially numbered to 74. No one will truly know until all the 1997-98 Topps Finest Basketball Series I & II packs are opened and all the 74 serially numbered Gold Embossed Die Cut Refractors are reported.
Conclusion:
The Reader needs to realize that there are 33 gold card in the regular 1997 98 Topps Finest Basketball set. I have seen on Ebay the test refractors for players such as Shawn Kemp and Michael Jordan. This article and many scans of the Test Refractor cards I have collected throughout the years will eventually be reported to the editor of Beckett Basketball Price Guide. Hopefully this card will be recognized in the future and offer many collectors another insight to collecting rare Topps Finest Inserts. I would like to thank all the sellers whom gave me their permission in using their pictures as a reference tool for this guide. Thanks you readers and I hope you enjoyed reading this guide. Once again, happy hunting !!!
I am going to go right to the point, I am talking about the ultra rare Michael Jordan 1997 98 Topps Finest Test gold refractor with atomic refractor pattern, rumored that only 5 were ever produced.
Fact & History
History of Topps Finest Basketball Cards indicates that many error or so called test refractor cards were produced and accidently inserted into packs. After collectors spotted them rumors came about as far as how many were produced. A good example would be the 1995 96 Topps Finest Mystery Bordered Refractors Test set. Topps would not comment on the numbers produced, since these cards were not suppose to be released in the first place. Rumored in the collecting community that less than 25-75 of each player were produced. Prices skyrocketed due to the rumores and a PSA 10 Michael Jordan ended at the price of $1600 not too long ago. This is one of the things that the reader/collector should be careful about, it is true that the so called test refractor cards are rare because you do not see them that often being sold on Ebay or other online auctions. But you should be very careful if you are to invest in rumors.
Back to the main subject, I am to concentrate solely on the 1997-98 Topps Finest Gold Test Refractor card with atomic refractor patterns. 1997-98 Topps Finest Basketball Gold set came out with four different parallel sets for collectors to chase.
This regular gold card was inserted one per box or one per 24 packs, came with a plastic protective coating on the outside of the card. A Michael Jordan Gold Card # 154 has a book value of $80.
Gold refractor cards were inserted one per 288 packs, came with a plastic protector coating, and the card itself is serially numbered to only 289. A Michael Jordan gold refractor #154 and serially numbered out of 289 has a book value of $320.
Gold Embossed Die Cut cards were inserted at the rate of one per 96 packs, it does not have a plastic protective coating. I have opened several boxes, the gold and silver embossed die cut cards never came with a platic protective coating. One can see and feel the embossed card because there is the indentation in the back of the card that enables the surface in the front of the card to project outward. The card is only numbered to the set and does not have a limited serial number. A Michael Jordan embossed die cut #154 in the set has a book value of $120.
Gold Embossed Die Cut Refractor cards were inserted at the rate of one per 1,152 packs, it does not have a protective coatingbut it has the embossed indentation in the back of the card. the card has an atomic refractor pattern in both front and back of the card to differentiate itself from the regular refractor pattern. An atomic refractor pattern is the rectangular box type of pattern that can be seen in Topps Bowan Atomic Refractor sets. The cards are numbered to the set and it is also serially numbered to only 74 of each gold cards. A Michael Jordan Gold Embossed Die Cut Refractor card serially numbered to 74 has a book value of $ 1,600.
The Ultimate Find:
About 3 years ago while searching for Michael Jordan Finest Refractor cards on Ebay I came across this treasure. It is what I believe will be labeled in the future on Beckett Price Guide as the 1997 98 Finest Gold Test Refractors or 1997 98 Finest Gold Test uncut, unembossed atomic refractor card. This card has no platic protective coating, it does not have the embossed indentation in the back of the card, it is not a die cut card, it is only numbered to the set and has no limited serial number. This is probably the reason why it was mislabeled as the regular gold refractor card. The front of the card has a smaller basketball pattern background than the regular finest refractor, that is because the die cut and the die cut refractors were cut according to the outer basketball pattern of this card. The back of this card is also exactly the same as the die cut and die cut refractor card. The Master label is on the top of the card and the description of the Materful Moments is on the left side of the card instead of the right side. (see above pictures for comparison)
Rarity:
For the past 5 years I have only seen 5 of this type of cards surfacing on ebay. One was graded as an authentic error card, one was graded a BGS 9 Mint mislabeled as a gold refractor, and three others that were not graded. Most of the sellers stated that this error card was produced less than 5 cards of each player in the gold set. But again, it is only a rumor plus the fact that many collectors probably do not even know that this card existed led me to believe that there is more than 5 cards. The five Michael Jordan cards I saw averaged about $ 450 to $550 when sold on Ebay. Just imagine how much collectors will speculate if the real number came out less than 74.
Speculation:
Topps will not comment on how many of each cards were produced because if they were really test refractors like the 1995-96 Finest Mystery Bordered Test Refractors they were not supposed to be released in the first place. In my personal opinion, similar to many error cards produced by Topps throughout the years. This one was to be printed as the Gold Embossed Die Cut Refractor card but was misplaced throughout the printing process. Therefore, it was not cut nor was it serially numbered to 74. No one will truly know until all the 1997-98 Topps Finest Basketball Series I & II packs are opened and all the 74 serially numbered Gold Embossed Die Cut Refractors are reported.
Conclusion:
The Reader needs to realize that there are 33 gold card in the regular 1997 98 Topps Finest Basketball set. I have seen on Ebay the test refractors for players such as Shawn Kemp and Michael Jordan. This article and many scans of the Test Refractor cards I have collected throughout the years will eventually be reported to the editor of Beckett Basketball Price Guide. Hopefully this card will be recognized in the future and offer many collectors another insight to collecting rare Topps Finest Inserts. I would like to thank all the sellers whom gave me their permission in using their pictures as a reference tool for this guide. Thanks you readers and I hope you enjoyed reading this guide. Once again, happy hunting !!!
Guide created: 05/09/06 (updated 07/05/08)
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