2003-04 Exquisite Gold Michael Jordan /25 sells

2003-04 Exquisite Michael Jordan Gold /25 Sells for $23,180 at Goldin

On May 1, 2026, Goldin closed a notable sale for high-end Jordan collectors: a 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Gold #3 Michael Jordan, serial-numbered 22/25, graded PSA EX-MT 6, realized $23,180.

For a card that sits at the intersection of Michael Jordan, the Exquisite brand, and low-numbered parallels, this sale offers a useful data point for anyone tracking premium 2000s inserts and parallels.

Card Overview: What Exactly Sold?

Let’s break down the card clearly:

• Player: Michael Jordan
• Team shown: Washington Wizards (late-career Jordan image and checklist)
• Year: 2003-04
• Set: Upper Deck Exquisite Collection
• Card number: #3
• Parallel: Gold, serial-numbered to 25 copies (#22/25)
• Rookie or key issue? Not a rookie card, but a key low-serial Jordan parallel from a landmark 2000s product.
• Grading company: PSA
• Grade: EX-MT 6 (Excellent-Mint)
• Attributes: Low print run (/25), premium Exquisite base parallel, non-auto, non-patch.

Exquisite’s 2003-04 release is best known for its rookie patch autos (RPAs), but the base set and its parallels—especially Gold and 1/1 levels—have become important targets for player collectors and set builders who focus on early 2000s high-end basketball.

Why 2003-04 Exquisite Matters

2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection is widely viewed as a turning point for modern basketball cards. It introduced many collectors to:

• Ultra-premium price points at release.
• Thick, high-end card stock and luxury-style presentation.
• Low-serial numbered cards across the checklist.

While most conversations around Exquisite center on LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony rookie patch autos, veteran content—including Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant—anchors the product’s broader appeal.

In that context, a Gold parallel of Jordan /25 is significant because it ties the GOAT’s name to what many consider the defining high-end set of the era.

Grading Context: PSA EX-MT 6

PSA’s EX-MT 6 grade indicates a card that presents well but shows noticeable flaws under closer inspection—things like:

• Moderate corner or edge wear
• A visible surface issue
• Centering or minor print defects beyond what’s allowed at higher grades

For a card from a thick, chipping-prone set like Exquisite, lower grades are not unusual. These cards were condition-sensitive from day one, and many were handled, stored, and even displayed in ways that introduced wear.

That said, PSA 6 is clearly a mid-grade outcome. The market typically segments Exquisite parallels roughly as follows:

• Top-end investor/collector focus: PSA 9–10, BGS 9–10, or similarly high grades.
• Set builders and player collectors: More open to PSA 5–8 range, especially when supply is extremely limited like /25.

For a card numbered out of 25, the sheer scarcity of copies can matter more than the grade once you move below the gem mint tier—especially if you’re trying to match a run (for example, collecting all Jordan Exquisite parallels or all key Exquisite Golds).

Market Context and Recent Sales

Exact, up-to-the-minute public sales data for this specific card—2003-04 Exquisite Collection Gold #3 Michael Jordan /25, PSA 6—is limited, partly because:

• There are only 25 copies to begin with.
• Not all copies are graded.
• Some transactions happen privately.

However, we can still frame this $23,180 sale in context by looking at closely related cards and known patterns:

1. Other 2003-04 Exquisite Jordan Cards

Across major auction houses and marketplaces over the last few years, collectors have seen:

• Base Jordan from 2003-04 Exquisite (non-Gold) often sell strongly even in mid grades due to the set’s reputation.
• Premium parallels (like Gold /25, or 1/1 levels) attract a narrower but very committed buyer pool—primarily deep Jordan collectors, Exquisite set fans, and high-end 2000s specialists.

When these Gold parallels appear publicly, the realized prices tend to:

• Increase sharply as grade rises. A PSA 8, 9, or 10 Gold /25 will usually sit in a very different price band than a PSA 5–6.
• Show significant variability because of eye appeal. Two cards with the same numerical grade can perform differently if centering, edges, and surface look notably better on one copy.

2. Where $23,180 Fits In

For a PSA 6 copy of a /25 Jordan Exquisite Gold, a realized price of $23,180 at a major auction house like Goldin is consistent with what many hobbyists would expect:

• It reflects a strong premium for rarity and set pedigree, even with a mid-grade label.
• It still sits well below what high-grade examples could command, leaving room for a “grade ladder” effect where nicer copies occupy higher price tiers.

In other words, this sale doesn’t look like an outlier that resets the market. Instead, it provides a clean, public benchmark for what a mid-grade example can bring when properly marketed to a national audience on a major platform.

Collector Significance

Why do collectors chase this card?

1. Jordan plus Exquisite is a key 2000s combination.
   Jordan’s true playing-days rookie cards are from the 1980s, but his 2000s high-end issues—especially from Exquisite—are now viewed as a crucial second pillar of his cardboard legacy.

2. Gold /25 is a meaningful scarcity level.
   With only 25 copies, many collectors will never see one in person. That scarcity helps the card stand out even within a loaded Jordan catalog.

3. It fits multiple collecting lanes at once.

   • Jordan player collectors
   • Exquisite set or year-specific builders
   • 2000s parallel and insert specialists
   • Low-serial-number chasers

4. Era appeal.
   2003-04 sits in a sweet spot between vintage/90s and ultra-modern. Production volumes were far lower than peak “junk wax” years, but the designs, technology, and set structures feel familiar to today’s modern collectors.

What This Sale Signals (Without Overpromising)

This Goldin result doesn’t guarantee anything about future prices. But it does offer several takeaways that may be useful if you collect Jordan, Exquisite, or similar high-end parallels:

• Liquidity exists for mid-grade, ultra-scarce cards. A PSA 6 still drew a five-figure result because of the brand and print run.
• Set prestige matters. Being from 2003-04 Exquisite elevates this card above many other 2000s-era parallels with similar serial numbers.
• Population and visibility drive interest. With only 25 copies in existence, each public sale becomes an anchor for future negotiations, whether public or private.

How Collectors Might Use This Data Point

If you are:

• A Jordan collector: This sale helps frame what you might expect to pay (or receive) for mid-grade, low-serial 2000s MJ parallels from Exquisite and similar premium sets.

• A 2000s high-end collector: It underscores the demand for non-rookie legends in early 2000s ultra-premium products—not just RPAs and 1/1s, but meaningful parallels like Gold /25.

• A small seller or returning hobbyist: It’s a reminder that condition isn’t the only driver of value. Brand, era, player, and serial numbering can combine to create significant demand even when the numerical grade is not near mint or better.

As always, individual cards can perform above or below recent comps (comparable sales) depending on timing, eye appeal, and how many serious bidders are in the room. This Goldin result on May 1, 2026 is best viewed as one clear, documented reference point in an evolving market for high-end Michael Jordan Exquisite parallels.

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Key sale recap

• Card: 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Gold #3 Michael Jordan (#22/25)
• Grade: PSA EX-MT 6
• Auction house: Goldin
• Sale date (UTC): May 1, 2026
• Realized price: $23,180

For collectors who follow figoca and track premium Jordan cards, this is another data point confirming that early-2000s, low-serial, brand-defining parallels remain an active and closely watched segment of the basketball card market.