question with Lebron topps chrome rc

elee712 · 12-13-2012, 02:02 PM

I'm semi new to this but I'm looking for a good lebron rookie card and noticed topps chrome has quite a few versions of the same card:

2003-04 Topps Chrome
2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractors
2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractors Black
2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractors Gold

Which one is the best lebron rookie card to have? what are the differences between them?

Thanks

crimedawg47 · 12-13-2012, 02:13 PM

All based on rarity. The black refractor has only 500 copies. The gold only has 50 copies. The regular and refractor do not have a stated print run.

Of course the best to have is the rarest, so based on your list from the bottom up is the order they would go. Best way to check on pricing is through ebay completed listings.

elee712 · 12-13-2012, 02:30 PM

great, thanks for the clarification!

Jsims20 · 12-13-2012, 02:41 PM

They are all great to have...

but goodness gracious the Black Refractor is a beauty. I am not a LeBron fan at all but I really enjoy looking at that one.

thecomebacker · 12-13-2012, 02:45 PM

The Gold is the best Topps Chrome rookie,

but his Exquisite Rookie Auto Patch is his best overall Rookie card.

BLawson87 · 12-13-2012, 03:43 PM

Lets say the regular topps chrome is $50 and the black is $200 (just an example).. If you're wanting to make an investment in hopes it is worth more one day, is it ever a better choice to go with the $50 version instead of the $200 to get a better return % wise? Does that make sense? Like any card not just lebron.. Is it always better off to get the rarest you can afford or is it ever a smarter investment to just go with the lesser one?

pingbling23 · 12-13-2012, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLawson87

Lets say the regular topps chrome is $50 and the black is $200 (just an example).. If you're wanting to make an investment in hopes it is worth more one day, is it ever a better choice to go with the $50 version instead of the $200 to get a better return % wise? Does that make sense? Like any card not just lebron.. Is it always better off to get the rarest you can afford or is it ever a smarter investment to just go with the lesser one?

i would say its a smarter investment on the rarer one.

bdoody42 · 12-13-2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pingbling23

i would say its a smarter investment on the rarer one.

I agree rare always helps....

BLawson87 · 12-13-2012, 03:54 PM

Ok cool. I am interested in getting a few "top notch" cards to keep for awhile and see what happens and it makes me nervous spending that much on a card but I guess as long as LeBron or whoever continues to hold value it shouldn't drop dramatically. Thanks guys

BLawson87 · 12-13-2012, 04:10 PM

Would you guys still say it would be better to invest in 1 super fractor LeBron chrome rookie for as an example $400 or 8 LeBron regular chrome non refractor at $50 each? I'm still kinda new at getting into the high end side of things, so I have no idea what the trends have been in the past.

Dwade Collector · 12-13-2012, 04:18 PM

The rarest will always be a better investment percentage-wise, I would get 1 high end card instead of 5 mid-end cards.

pingbling23 · 12-13-2012, 04:23 PM

i would have to think in 20 years, a rare lebron will rise in value at a higher percentage vs 5 regualr chrome rcs.

bdoody42 · 12-13-2012, 04:24 PM

Agree with two above posters.

BLawson87 · 12-13-2012, 04:35 PM

Awesome, thanks.

elee712 · 12-13-2012, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecomebacker

The Gold is the best Topps Chrome rookie,

but his Exquisite Rookie Auto Patch is his best overall Rookie card.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I'm not sure if I can afford to pay XX,XXX for the exquisite card.. is the topps chrome his second best rookie card?

How aobut for Kobe? Is the topps chrome rookie his best rookie card or is there another type of card that is his best rookie card?

Dwade Collector · 12-13-2012, 06:18 PM

A LeBron rookie can run you from $5 to $20,000+ depending on the card. Most of his higher end rookies are autographed. For example:

03-04 Exquisite Rookie Auto/Patch /99
03-04 Ultimate Rookie Auto /250
03-04 SPx Rookie Auto/Jersey /750
03-04 SP Authentic Auto Rookie /500

Also, cards graded BGS 9.5 or PSA 10 will sell significantly more than those ungraded. Hope this helps

sreg0r · 12-13-2012, 09:05 PM

As an investment you've missed the boat, especially if you're thinking in terms of 20 years down the track.

Lets say you buy a card for $400, just due to inflation you'd need to sell it for $650+ just to break even, take out ebay fees, risk of damage to card etc. and you might just break even.

dxtrfn80 · 12-13-2012, 09:12 PM

Any LeBron Topps Chrome card is good to have, try to find his 2009-10 Topps Chrome Card as it sold on eBay for up to $80 for his Chrome Refractor version /500. Went crazy after LeBron won his first championship.

BLawson87 · 12-13-2012, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sreg0r

As an investment you've missed the boat, especially if you're thinking in terms of 20 years down the track.

Lets say you buy a card for $400, just due to inflation you'd need to sell it for $650+ just to break even, take out ebay fees, risk of damage to card etc. and you might just break even.

What were they going for when he first came into the league? Surely not that much cheaper than they are now.. Of course no one knows what will happen but I believe if LeBron wins a few titles in the next few years his stuff will go up even more. Just my thought but who knows

ivecenanuff · 12-13-2012, 10:59 PM

EricMetcalf21 · 12-14-2012, 01:28 AM

I like his Bowman Chrome rookie better. You should check those out too.

12-13-2012, 02:02 PM	#1
elee712 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bay Area Posts: 2,635 elee712	question with Lebron topps chrome rc I'm semi new to this but I'm looking for a good lebron rookie card and noticed topps chrome has quite a few versions of the same card: 2003-04 Topps Chrome 2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractors 2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractors Black 2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractors Gold Which one is the best lebron rookie card to have? what are the differences between them? Thanks

12-13-2012, 02:13 PM	#2
crimedawg47 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,976 Crimedawg47	All based on rarity. The black refractor has only 500 copies. The gold only has 50 copies. The regular and refractor do not have a stated print run. Of course the best to have is the rarest, so based on your list from the bottom up is the order they would go. Best way to check on pricing is through ebay completed listings. __________________ Henderson PC: http://sportscardalbum.com/u/crimedawg47/a/gerald-henderson-pc Henderson Auto PC Stats: Non 1/1's Autos: 210/225 93.3% 1/1's: 26/41 63.4% Jersey #'d: 95 Total 1/1's: 60

12-13-2012, 02:41 PM	#4
Jsims20 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,750 theidealretro	They are all great to have... but goodness gracious the Black Refractor is a beauty. I am not a LeBron fan at all but I really enjoy looking at that one. __________________ I am VENGEANCE... I am the NIGHT... I am BATMAN.

12-13-2012, 02:45 PM	#5
thecomebacker Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: CA, USA Posts: 2,043	The Gold is the best Topps Chrome rookie, but his Exquisite Rookie Auto Patch is his best overall Rookie card. __________________ lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Collecting Bulls Players 3 Color GU Patch Cards.

12-13-2012, 03:43 PM	#6
BLawson87 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Louisville Posts: 1,059	Lets say the regular topps chrome is $50 and the black is $200 (just an example).. If you're wanting to make an investment in hopes it is worth more one day, is it ever a better choice to go with the $50 version instead of the $200 to get a better return % wise? Does that make sense? Like any card not just lebron.. Is it always better off to get the rarest you can afford or is it ever a smarter investment to just go with the lesser one? __________________ Avid sports fan, memorabilia and autograph collector

12-13-2012, 02:30 PM	#3
elee712 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Bay Area Posts: 2,635 elee712	great, thanks for the clarification!

12-13-2012, 03:54 PM	#9
BLawson87 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Louisville Posts: 1,059	Ok cool. I am interested in getting a few "top notch" cards to keep for awhile and see what happens and it makes me nervous spending that much on a card but I guess as long as LeBron or whoever continues to hold value it shouldn't drop dramatically. Thanks guys __________________ Avid sports fan, memorabilia and autograph collector

12-13-2012, 04:10 PM	#10
BLawson87 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Louisville Posts: 1,059	Would you guys still say it would be better to invest in 1 super fractor LeBron chrome rookie for as an example $400 or 8 LeBron regular chrome non refractor at $50 each? I'm still kinda new at getting into the high end side of things, so I have no idea what the trends have been in the past. __________________ Avid sports fan, memorabilia and autograph collector

12-13-2012, 04:18 PM	#11
Dwade Collector Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 4,200	The rarest will always be a better investment percentage-wise, I would get 1 high end card instead of 5 mid-end cards.

12-13-2012, 04:23 PM	#12
pingbling23 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 16,012	i would have to think in 20 years, a rare lebron will rise in value at a higher percentage vs 5 regualr chrome rcs.

12-13-2012, 04:24 PM	#13
bdoody42 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MD Posts: 8,346 Mainecards42 bdoody42	Agree with two above posters. __________________ Looking for Celtic on card autos and Paul Pierce cards. IG-marylandcards42

12-13-2012, 04:35 PM	#14
BLawson87 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Louisville Posts: 1,059	Awesome, thanks. __________________ Avid sports fan, memorabilia and autograph collector

12-13-2012, 06:18 PM	#16
Dwade Collector Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 4,200	A LeBron rookie can run you from $5 to $20,000+ depending on the card. Most of his higher end rookies are autographed. For example: 03-04 Exquisite Rookie Auto/Patch /99 03-04 Ultimate Rookie Auto /250 03-04 SPx Rookie Auto/Jersey /750 03-04 SP Authentic Auto Rookie /500 Also, cards graded BGS 9.5 or PSA 10 will sell significantly more than those ungraded. Hope this helps

12-13-2012, 09:05 PM	#17
sreg0r Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 25	As an investment you've missed the boat, especially if you're thinking in terms of 20 years down the track. Lets say you buy a card for $400, just due to inflation you'd need to sell it for $650+ just to break even, take out ebay fees, risk of damage to card etc. and you might just break even.

12-13-2012, 09:12 PM	#18
dxtrfn80 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 482	Any LeBron Topps Chrome card is good to have, try to find his 2009-10 Topps Chrome Card as it sold on eBay for up to $80 for his Chrome Refractor version /500. Went crazy after LeBron won his first championship. __________________ I am collecting LeBron James 2010-11 cards in general. 100 different 2010-11 cards and 100 total LeBron cards reached on May 11, 2012. 191 total LeBrons cards now. I got 177 certified autographed cards with 100 being reached on 10-11-12, 150 reached on 3-25-13 and 1 Manute Bol "non-certified" autograph. (none of LeBron of course)

12-13-2012, 10:59 PM	#20
ivecenanuff Banned Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Stockton,Ca Posts: 2,061

12-14-2012, 01:28 AM	#21
EricMetcalf21 Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,787	I like his Bowman Chrome rookie better. You should check those out too.