Your thoughts about PMG's 1996....

[Laurent]

Hi Guys,

As the PMG's (ok, PM's...but for me they are a kind of forerunners from the hyped PMG's) from 1996 (1996-97 Metal Precious Metal) arent numbered like all other PMG's from 97, 98....what are your thoughts about the set limitation? How much copies are printed for each 1996 PMG? 50? 100?

Happy to hear from you,
Regards,
Laurent

[mc1]

First of all. They arent PMG. They are just Precious Metal.

While they werent serial numbered, they likely arent as rare as the real PMGs.

[Kobefan]

Unless someone has inside information on the set, I think it's impossible to calculate the amount of Precious Metal cards made because there are no numbered cards. I'm going to make a rough estimate based on an assumption that the number of boxes made was roughly the same as 1996-97 fleer ultra series 2 boxes, since both products were in the same tier level. The 1996-97 Precious Metal was inserted into the 1996-97 Fleer Metal series 2 boxes with a checklist of 98 cards and an odd of 1 in 36 packs. The platinum medallion from Fleer Ultra series 2 has a checklist of 148 cards with odds of 1 in 100 packs, and about 250 of each card made. With a smaller checklist, (148/98= 1.51) it is 1.51 times more common. With a lesser odd, (100/36=2.78), it is 2.78 times more common. In total (1.51 x 2.78=4.2) it is about 4.2 times more common than the platinum medallion, which is about 250 of each card made, so 250 x 4.2 = 1,050 of each precious metal card made. Feel free to check my math and my assumptions, I'm not an expert and I haven't done much math in a long time.

[LovelyLlamas]

1000 seems fair on the surface…

They don’t show up a ton but maybe that has more to do with the minimal design change…how many are in peoples base sets because the background just has more silver on it?

A nice set, but not having a series one hurts it some…an unfinished parallel like two of my other faves: 1995-96 Ultra Gold Medallion and 1996-97 Stadium Club Matrix.

[Kobefan]

1000 seems fair on the surface…

They don’t show up a ton but maybe that has more to do with the minimal design change…how many are in peoples base sets because the background just has more silver on it?

A nice set, but not having a series one hurts it some…an unfinished parallel like two of my other faves: 1995-96 Ultra Gold Medallion and 1996-97 Stadium Club Matrix.

You're right, many were confused on the Precious Metal design, so I would imagine that many of them were treated as if they were base cards; some thrown away, some in collections with the owner being unaware, etc.

[rats60]

You're right, many were confused on the Precious Metal design, so I would imagine that many of them were treated as if they were base cards; some thrown away, some in collections with the owner being unaware, etc.

PSA doesn't even know what they are. When I submitted my Jordan, PSA graded it as the common version, despite it being marked as the precious metal version on the submission form.

[duron]

I didn’t go over the math but ~1,000 seems about right. Tons of inserts that had similar player specific pack odds were in the 800-1200 range.

They’re basically tougher Silver Spotlights. Mentioned it plenty of times but kids used to think the base versions were just error cards missing color. Complete waste of a parallel imo except for the subset versions, especially the Metallized and Metal Shredders versions…

https://i.imgur.com/F139gmol.jpg

[AbraCalabro]

Overpriced poor man's version of the ugly 97/98 red and green ones that people are overvaluing now because the words Precious and Metal appear in the name of the parallel. As Duron said, they're basically Silver Spotlight under a different name.

[kaisersoze]

i enjoy the look of them. the silver really pops in person. much nicer parallel than the skybox rubies of the same year. both are probably overpriced though.

[mc1]

Overpriced poor man's version of the ugly 97/98 red and green ones that people are overvaluing now because the words Precious and Metal appear in the name of the parallel. As Duron said, they're basically Silver Spotlight under a different name.

Thats your opinion. Some of us think Flair and their 10 tiers are trash and ugly.

Different strokes.

[AbraCalabro]

Thats your opinion. Some of us think Flair and their 10 tiers are trash and ugly.

Different strokes.

OMG! Wow, the only thing that's trash and ugly are people getting literally mad about literally everything!!!


REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

EDIT: I actually love the Silver Spotlights by the way, but let's be real, if the following year's Silver Spotlights weren't called Precious Metal, they probably wouldn't be looked twice at.

[Laurent]

Yeah, definitly not the poor man Precious Metal....for me its clearly the opposite, the '96 precious metals are like a kind of forerunner, before the '97 ugly and often condition sensitive PMG's appears.......its very subjective.

Thx for your messages guys, always happy to discuss about our great hobby,
Friendly,
Laurent

[Laurent]

While they werent serial numbered, they likely arent as rare as the real PMGs.


Sure, yep...i was thinking about smthng like 250, 500 or 1000 copies...

:)!

[AbraCalabro]

Yeah, definitly not the poor man Precious Metal....for me its clearly the opposite, the '96 precious metals are like a kind of forerunner, before the '97 ugly and often condition sensitive PMG's appears.......its very subjective.

Thx for your messages guys, always happy to discuss about our great hobby,
Friendly,
Laurent

I think there is a misunderstanding here. Poor man's Precious Metal is in regard to the prices before the red and greens got out of hand for people. Since they are called Precious Metal, price hikers are harping on the naming of the parallel, even though the reds and greens came after. What used to be reasonably priced, isn't reasonably priced anymore, mainly because of the name.

I agree, reds and greens are trash, but 96 Precious Metal is overpriced...everything is.

[maconithappen]

I think there is a misunderstanding here. Poor man's Precious Metal is in regard to the prices before the red and greens got out of hand for people. Since they are called Precious Metal, price hikers are harping on the naming of the parallel, even though the reds and greens came after. What used to be reasonably priced, isn't reasonably priced anymore, mainly because of the name.

I agree, reds and greens are trash, but 96 Precious Metal is overpriced...everything is.

takes the words right out of my mouth.

[Nomad]

1996-97 Stadium Club Matrix. That's a sleeper. I feel they introduced some kind of technology there.

[duron]

That's a sleeper. I feel they introduced some kind of technology there.

Incredible cards

[rogueriver]

These were not very rare at all back in the day. I had a buddy that was trying to complete the set ( before the internet and ebay was anything) and he got pretty close. He does not remember exactly where he was but said they were pretty easy to find in shops and packs. Nothing like PMGs I would be willing to bet there are a ton of these in common boxes and people have no idea how much they are worth now. Honestly back when I was busting these packs I was only interested in the inserts, Iverson, Kobe and Marbury and I dont even remember these being a thing.

[duron]

1996-97 Stadium Club Matrix.

If you’re unfamiliar with them, buy some. 1:12 and super cheap.

Clip I made of one…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CaU7HV5opxB/?utm_medium=copy_link

[Nomad]

And super bricked.

[Kobefan]

I'm not a big fan of this parallel. I personally rank it around 11th-20th best card made in that year.

[ShaqcollectorDE]

I'm going to make a rough estimate based on an assumption that the number of boxes made was roughly the same as 1996-97 fleer ultra series 2 boxes, since both products were in the same tier level. The 1996-97 Precious Metal was inserted into the 1996-97 Fleer Metal series 2 boxes with a checklist of 98 cards and an odd of 1 in 36 packs. The platinum medallion from Fleer Ultra series 2 has a checklist of 148 cards with odds of 1 in 100 packs, and about 250 of each card made. With a smaller checklist, (148/98= 1.51) it is 1.51 times more common. With a lesser odd, (100/36=2.78), it is 2.78 times more common. In total (1.51 x 2.78=4.2) it is about 4.2 times more common than the platinum medallion, which is about 250 of each card made, so 250 x 4.2 = 1,050 of each precious metal card made. Feel free to check my math and my assumptions

:)! Your math is spot on and I believe your assumptions are pretty good, too, so 1,000 seems perfectly reasonable.

I also believe that if the set was still called Silver Spotlight like in the previous year it definitely would be worth muss less. I still like it very much and due to the name it is indeed the closest thing a regular collector can get to owning a PMG :)

[LovelyLlamas]

If you’re unfamiliar with them, buy some. 1:12 and super cheap.

Clip I made of one…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CaU7HV5opxB/?utm_medium=copy_link

Yeah they’re fantastic. My favorite was always the Schrempf one because of the way the court pops in the background.

This isn’t just zebra stripes on the border or a silver finish. Every card had a specialized look and that makes the set so unique. Again, the only flaw being that it is incomplete at 90 cards with zero rookies. Luckily most of the stars sans Jordan was in series one that year.

[Nomad]

They are silver and silver is traditionally a symbol of hardness, value, and pristine rarity. The point I guess is that the normal ones were portraying a process of rust (similar to greening, involving oxidation) artistically. So obviously the makers of Metal knew that Topps had purposefully printed cards that would green and then patina over time, and were riffing on that.

[Starman101]

Overpriced poor man's version of the ugly 97/98 red and green ones that people are overvaluing now because the words Precious and Metal appear in the name of the parallel. As Duron said, they're basically Silver Spotlight under a different name.

Agreed 100% on all points

Just another card being pumped for $. Thats about it

As far as the red and greens I agree they leave alot to be desired aesthetically. Mega hyped and cornered for $ just like Marvel PMGs now

If they can manipulate elections, the stock market, real estate, gas and food prices etc these auction houses do same with PMGs

Sold my PMGs of common players few months ago on the mega PMG hype derived from the social media "hobby ambassadors" for "love of the hobby" and investorbois to pump and dump their cards for maximum gains

I stay far away from self serving hobby parasites who just care about "value" to broadcast ala pump in auctions when there is a blatant conflict of interest

I find no appeal in hype tulip mania or Pumped Manipulated Garbage (PMGs) whatsoever

So yes to each is own for sure!

[Nomad]

I think that the 08-09 MU and PMG actually stands on its own, both as a parallel of an insert (rather than a set), its uniform background, and its status as the most condition-sensitive card produced in the 00s.

It can't be graded and slabbed (and remain pristine) apparently, so that puts the card beyond the reach of the PSA grading mob. Maybe that even opens new areas of collectibility in a static market.

[thenwhatjk]

700 page thread by 2025

[bkcardcollector]

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/1996-97/Fleer-Metal---Base---Precious-Metal/205/Steve-Nash.jpg?id=af7a0d22-4fca-496f-b3d4-e2ca60bb63c9&size=zoom
https://nexus.shipmycards.com/documents/clients/170/3e848b6a-5e3d-4b5c-bd29-2d281f436e72.jpg

[bkcardcollector]

https://nexus.shipmycards.com/documents/clients/170/a6832014-a04f-4113-9a94-06632474eede.jpg

[bkcardcollector]

https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/1996-97/Fleer-Metal---Base---Precious-Metal/220/Shareef-Abdur-Rahim.jpg?id=edb7a444-53bb-49eb-a723-730691ecb1cb&size=zoom
https://img.comc.com/i/Basketball/1996-97/Fleer-Metal---Base---Precious-Metal/189/Stephon-Marbury.jpg?id=7b54b104-8c81-442d-8acb-6ee2bc661124&size=zoom

[Laurent]

Yep, very subjetctive...i dont care about hypes, etc. I collect MJ and KG, but only the cards that catch my eyes only. I owned the Garnett 97/98 PMG, but traded it, as in my opinions these PMG's are very ugly....as i said, my precious metal MJ 96/97 wouldnt go away even against a hyped 97/98 PMG, never, never, never.

Thx for your comments guys!
Regards,
Laurent

[Laurent]

Unless someone has inside information on the set, I think it's impossible to calculate the amount of Precious Metal cards made because there are no numbered cards. I'm going to make a rough estimate based on an assumption that the number of boxes made was roughly the same as 1996-97 fleer ultra series 2 boxes, since both products were in the same tier level. The 1996-97 Precious Metal was inserted into the 1996-97 Fleer Metal series 2 boxes with a checklist of 98 cards and an odd of 1 in 36 packs. The platinum medallion from Fleer Ultra series 2 has a checklist of 148 cards with odds of 1 in 100 packs, and about 250 of each card made. With a smaller checklist, (148/98= 1.51) it is 1.51 times more common. With a lesser odd, (100/36=2.78), it is 2.78 times more common. In total (1.51 x 2.78=4.2) it is about 4.2 times more common than the platinum medallion, which is about 250 of each card made, so 250 x 4.2 = 1,050 of each precious metal card made. Feel free to check my math and my assumptions, I'm not an expert and I haven't done much math in a long time.

yup, make sence :coffee::)!!
Thx for your calculation!

Regards,
Laurent