Stephen Curry 2009-10 Exquisite Rookie Auto PSA 9 Sale

When a key Stephen Curry rookie surfaces at auction, collectors tend to pay attention. That was the case on 02/08/26, when Goldin sold a 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Exquisite Rookie Autograph #64 Stephen Curry Signed Rookie Card, serial-numbered 163/225 and graded PSA MINT 9, for $12,322.

In this post, we’ll walk through why this specific card matters, how the price fits into recent sales, and what it might mean for collectors and small sellers watching the high-end Curry market.

The card at a glance

Player: Stephen Curry
Team: Golden State Warriors
Season: 2009-10 (true rookie year)
Set: 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection
Card: Exquisite Rookie Autograph #64
Serial numbering: 163/225
Autograph: On-card (signed directly on the card)
Grading: PSA MINT 9

This is a true rookie card from one of the most respected high-end basketball products ever made. Exquisite Collection, originally a basketball-only line in the mid-2000s, helped define what the modern premium patch/auto rookie would look like: low print runs, clean designs, and hard-signed autographs.

While many Exquisite rookies feature jumbo patches, this particular Curry is the non-patch Exquisite Rookie Autograph /225. It sits just below the ultra-premium Limited /25 and Logoman tiers, but it is still considered a core high-end rookie for Curry collectors.

Why collectors care about this card

1. It’s a true Exquisite rookie of a generational player

Stephen Curry changed how the NBA is played, and that’s not an exaggeration. Three-point volume, spacing, and offensive schemes all look different because of his prime years with Golden State. For long-term collectors, that kind of impact often matters more than short-term headlines.

From a hobby perspective, Curry’s rookie portfolio is anchored by a few cornerstone cards:

2009-10 National Treasures RPA (Rookie Patch Autograph)
2009-10 Topps Chrome Refractors
2009-10 Exquisite Collection rookies, including this /225 on-card autograph

Exquisite occupies a special lane: it’s not his NBA-licensed RPA like National Treasures, but it carries the prestige of the Exquisite brand and sits firmly in that premium, low-print, autograph-focused segment.

2. Exquisite’s place in hobby history

Exquisite Collection is widely viewed as one of the key high-end sets that shaped the modern hobby. Even almost two decades after its debut, collectors still talk about Exquisite LeBron rookies as a benchmark for premium basketball cards.

By 2009-10, the brand was established as the luxury basketball release. That heritage gives Curry’s Exquisite rookies a layer of historical significance that many modern ultra-modern sets are still chasing.

3. On-card autograph and controlled print run

Two details that matter a lot to high-end collectors:

On-card autographs: The signature is signed directly on the card, not on a sticker applied later. Many collectors see on-card autos as more personal and more desirable.
Serial numbering to 225: With only 225 copies produced, this is not a mass-printed rookie. It’s not as scarce as Curry’s Exquisite Limited /25 or 1-of-1s, but 225 is still firmly in the “true limited” range for a player with global demand.

The grading: PSA MINT 9

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is one of the two most recognizable grading companies in the hobby alongside BGS. A PSA MINT 9 means:

Sharp corners
Clean edges
Strong surface
Centering that’s close to ideal

For thicker, premium cards like Exquisite, achieving higher grades can be challenging due to edge chipping, surface dimples, and foil nicks. While PSA 10s usually command clear premiums, PSA 9 is often seen as a strong, investment-grade tier for high-end low-serial rookies.

Collectors pay attention to the pop report (short for population report), which is the grading company’s count of how many copies exist in each grade. Detailed pop numbers can shift over time, but in general, PSA 9s of this card are far less common than raw (ungraded) copies and represent the top end of surviving examples.

Market context: how does $12,322 fit in?

This copy sold at Goldin on 02/08/26 for $12,322.

To understand that number, collectors usually look at comps—short for comparable sales—meaning recent sales of the same card or close variants. While specific numbers move with the market, a few general patterns tend to show up with this card and related Curry Exquisite rookies:

PSA 9 Exquisite Curry rookies have historically traded as a premium over raw copies and a step below PSA 10s or BGS 9.5s with strong subgrades.
When Curry’s market heated up around championships or MVP seasons, Exquisite rookies saw notable spikes, particularly at the top grades.
In softer periods for modern basketball, many Exquisite and National Treasures rookies cooled alongside the broader market, but the true key rookies generally held up better than mid-tier inserts or parallels.

Within that framework, a PSA 9 Exquisite Rookie Autograph /225 closing at $12,322 in early 2026 sits in what many collectors would recognize as a serious but not record-setting result. It reflects enduring respect for Exquisite, sustained global demand for Curry, and a more selective market that still pays up for true low-numbered, on-card rookie autos.

When looking at this sale, it’s also important to separate it from:

Patch versions or rarer parallels: Curry’s Exquisite RPAs and lower-serial variants can reach significantly higher levels.
Different grading tiers: A jump from PSA 9 to a true gem (PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 with strong subgrades) can be substantial, especially in a tighter, more condition-sensitive supply.

What this sale suggests for collectors

This Goldin sale doesn’t rewrite the Curry market by itself, but it does reinforce a few trends that collectors and small sellers might find useful.

1. Core rookies still command attention

In periods when the hobby cools or shifts, many mid-tier inserts and non-rookie parallels can become volatile. But cornerstone rookie autos from historically important sets—like Exquisite—tend to stay near the center of demand.

For Curry, this means:

Exquisite rookies
National Treasures RPAs
Key chromium rookies (e.g., Topps Chrome and parallels)

continue to act as reference points for his market.

2. Graded condition continues to matter

A PSA MINT 9 result at this level underscores the gap between high-grade and ungraded or lower-grade copies. Even within the same serial numbering, collectors routinely pay premiums for:

Trusted grading companies (PSA, BGS)
Strong overall eye appeal
Clean autos and surfaces

If you are a small seller, this is a reminder that grading decisions can materially change the audience and potential realized prices for premium cards.

3. Auction houses still play a role in price discovery

That this result came from Goldin on 02/08/26 matters. Large auction houses with established high-end buyer bases often serve as price-discovery venues for important cards. Their marketing reach and bidder pools can lead to more visible, well-documented comps—useful for both buyers and sellers trying to understand current ranges.

Takeaways for different types of collectors

New or returning collectors

If you’re just getting (back) into the hobby, this sale is a case study in how the high end works:

Not all rookie cards are equal; brand, scarcity, and autograph type all matter.
Exquisite is a historically significant set, and its rookies tend to be long-discussed.
A strong grade from a major company can make a big difference in realized price.

You don’t need to chase five-figure cards to use the same logic. You can apply these lessons to more affordable rookies, inserts, or PCs (personal collections).

Active hobbyists and small sellers

For more experienced hobbyists, this sale helps:

Anchor your expectations for where a PSA 9 Exquisite Curry rookie sits relative to other premium Curry pieces.
Frame conversations when trading down from an Exquisite to multiple mid-tier cards, or vice versa.
Provide a documented, date-stamped comp from a major auction house to reference in negotiations.

As always, this is price context, not a guarantee. Markets move, player narratives evolve, and liquidity can shift between platforms and regions.

Final thoughts

The 2009-10 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Exquisite Rookie Autograph #64 Stephen Curry, serial-numbered 163/225 and graded PSA MINT 9, landing at $12,322 with Goldin on 02/08/26 is another data point in the ongoing story of high-end Curry collecting.

It reinforces a few steady themes:

Exquisite still matters.
True rookie autos of era-defining players continue to draw serious attention.
Condition, brand, and venue all shape realized prices.

For collectors, the card is more than just a dollar amount—it’s a snapshot of how the hobby values one of the most influential players of his generation and one of the flagship high-end brands of modern basketball.

At figoca, we track these moments so you can understand not just what a card sold for, but how it fits into the bigger picture of the market and your own collecting journey.