Trading sports cards is a recreational hobby that’s been enjoyed among sports enthusiasts for decades. Cards given away for free in bubble gum and tobacco packs could now be worth thousands of dollars, depending on their rarity.
Card value is determined by the rarity, collection, and the player the card features. Cards featuring iconic sports players that were produced in limited quantities are the most valuable to collectors.
If you’re a fan of basketball, you’ve probably heard of Stephen Curry. As he continues to break records with his shot-making skills, so do his sports cards.
Most Valuable Stephen Curry Rookie Cards (Round-up list)
When it comes to the most valuable Stephen Curry cards, his rookie cards are top of the list. As he continues to capture the imaginations of sports fans, the value of his rookie cards produced in limited quantities continues to rise. One of his rookie cards currently holds the record for the most valuable basketball card ever sold.
Here are 12 of the most valuable Stephen Curry rookie cards currently valued or recently sold at auction.
| Number | Stephen Curry Rookie Card | Grade | Price |
| 1 | Stephen Curry Autographed National Treasures Logoman Card #206 | PSA NM-MT 8 | $5,900,000 |
| 2 | Stephen Curry Autographed Panini National Treasures RC | Beckett Gem Mint 9.5 | $960,000 |
| 3 | Topps Chrome Gold Refractor #101 RC | Beckett Pristine 10 | $480,000 |
| 4 | 2009 Topps Chrome Refractor #101 | PSA Gem Mint 10 | $228,000 |
| 5 | Bowman ‘48 Black Stephen Curry Rookie #106 | PSA Gem Mint 10 | $120,000 |
| 6 | Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Stephen Curry Auto #72 | PSA Gem Mint 10 | $102,000 |
| 7 | 2009 National Treasures Timeline RC Patch Auto #5 | Beckett Pristine 10 | $72,000 |
| 8 | Panini Next Day Signatures Stephen Curry Rookie Auto #SCU | PSA Gem Mint 10 | $52,800 |
| 9 | 2009 National Treasures NBA Laundry Tag Auto #11 | Beckett Mint 9 | $46,400 |
| 10 | National Treasures Colossal Stephen Curry Auto #10 | Beckett NM-MT 8.5 | $28,800 |
| 11 | Limited Platinum Spotlight Stephen Curry RC Auto #156 | Beckett Gem Mint 9.5 | $27,000 |
| 12 | Certified Mirror Emerald Patch Auto RC #176 | Beckett Mint 9 | $27,000 |
1) Stephen Curry Autographed National Treasures Logoman Card #206
(Sold by Private Sale in July 2021)
- Price: $5,900,000
- Grade: PSA NM-MT 8
- Card Number: 1/1
Taking the top spot for the number by quite some margin is the 2009-10 Stephen Curry National Treasures Logoman Autograph Card. It was Panini’s first super premium basketball card product and has increased in value as Panini continues to be a popular card brand with collectors.
As part of the Logoman series, Panini released 50 parallel cards of 50 NBA players that are all 1/1. Each card contains an NBA logo jersey patch and signature.
The front of the card features a picture of Curry looking straight at the camera during his NBA rookie year. Next to the picture is an NBA logo jersey patch. Curry has autographed the bottom of the card with a thin blue pen.
Whilst the card is only graded by PSA as NM-MT 8, the autograph is graded as a 10. It sold in a private sale in July 2021 for $5,900,000, smashing the previous $5,200,000 basketball card record held by a LeBron James rookie card.
2) Stephen Curry Autographed Panini National Treasures RC
(Sold by Goldin Auctions)
- Price: $960,000
- Grade: BGS Gem Mint 9.5
- Card Number: 3/5
In the second spot is another card from Panini that’s also from the National Treasures series, but this time its part of a different set. It comes from the Century Platinum set, with only 5 card copies produced. This particular card example is serial numbered 3/5.
The front of the card is quite similar to the card at the top of my list, showing Curry looking at the camera with the caption ‘Rookie National Treasures’. Instead of a logo patch, it contains a used Warriors jersey patch that’s been autographed underneath in blue ink.
This card example is in excellent condition, graded as Gem Mint 9.5 by Beckett. According to the Beckett population report, only 1 other card example has been graded the same, with none graded higher. It sold at a Goldin Auction for $960,000.
3) Topps Chrome Gold Refractor #101 RC
(Sold by Goldin Auctions)
- Price: $480,000
- Grade: BGS Pristine 10
- Card Number: 1/1
Topps is known as one of the leading producers of sports cards. Topps Chrome rookie cards are very popular among collectors as they are known to hold their value well.
This particular card is a Topps Chrome Gold Refractor rookie card. The Topps base set contained 110 cards, each numbered /999 making them pretty common. The Gold refractor parallels were only numbered /50, which is what makes this card example so valuable.
The front of the card features a large picture of Curry smiling for the camera, surrounded by a gold border. Both the Topps Chrome and Warriors logos feature at opposite corners. On the back of the card are Curry’s physical and playing stats from his college career with Davison.
The card is serial numbered 40/50 and was graded by Beckett as a Pristine 10, with no other card examples graded of the same quality. It sold at a Goldin Auction for $480,000.
4) 2009 Topps Chrome Refractor #101
(Sold by PWCC Marketplace in January 2022)
- Price: $228,000
- Grade: PSA Gem Mint 10
- Card Number: 41/500
This next card is from the same Topps series but out of a much more common set. Unlike the gold refractors, the standard chrome refractors were numbered /500. Despite this, they are still highly valued among collectors.
It has the same card layout as the Gold refractor but features a standard white border. The back of the card has the same stats as the gold refractor but its serial stamped 041/500. It’s been graded as a PSA Gem Mint 10. Out of 93 sent to PSA for grading, only 28 cards have been graded of the same quality. It was sold at a PWCC Marketplace Auction in January 2022 for $228,000.
5) Bowman ‘48 Black Stephen Curry Rookie #106
(Sold by PWCC Marketplace in February 2022)
- Price: $120,000
- Grade: PSA Gem Mint 10
- Card Number: 05/48
At number 5 is a card from Bowman, a card brand that was acquired by Topps in 1956. The 121-card issue combines elements of the 1948 Bowman set with a few updated touches to make it more appealing. This Stephen Curry Black parallel rookie is much rarer, with only 48 copies ever produced.
It features Curry looking up in his Davison college uniform with the Bowman logo printed in the top left corner. Its serial stamped 05/48 and was graded by PSA as a Gem Mint 10. Only 14 black parallels have been sent to PSA for grading with this card example the only one to achieve a 10 grading. It sold at a PWCC Marketplace Auction in February 2022 for $120,000.
6) Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Stephen Curry Auto #72
(Sold by PWCC Marketplace in January 2022)
- Price: $102,000
- Grade: PSA Gem Mint 10
- Card Number: 137/225
At number 6 is a card from Upper Deck, well-known for producing premium cards featuring player signatures and rookie patches. This is a Curry rookie card from the 2009 Exquisite Collection.
This 2009-10 release from Upper Deck features multiple card subsets. These include 42 standard cards numbered /199, 37 rookie cards numbered /225, and 18 flashback cards numbered /25. This card example is from the rookie card subset numbered /225, and is serial numbered 137/225.
It features a picture of Curry in a white Davison uniform underneath the title ‘Exquisite Rookie Autograph’. Under the picture is a big blue autograph next to the serial stamp number and Exquisite Collection logo.
It was graded as a PSA Gem Mint 10, with only 10 other card examples known to exist of the same quality. It was sold at a PWCC Marketplace auction in January 2022 for $102,000.
7) 2009 National Treasures Timeline RC Patch Auto #5
(Sold by PWCC Marketplace in December 2021)
- Price: $72,000
- Grade: Beckett Pristine 10
- Card Number: 17/30
Next is another card from Panini that’s part of the same National Treasures series. This one is from the Timeline Materials set featuring rookie players that were numbered to just 30 copies.
The front of the card shows Curry dribbling the ball in a black Warriors uniform against a cream background. Next to Curry are the words ‘2009-10 All-Rookie Team Curry’. The back of the card features some cool stats about Curry’s record-breaking rookie year.
It’s been given the converted black label by Becketts, graded as a Pristine 10. What makes the card so valuable is that it’s the only one known to have been given the perfect grading. It was sold at a PWCC Marketplace Auction in December 2021 for $72,000.
8) Panini Next Day Signatures Stephen Curry Rookie Auto #SCU
(Sold by PWCC Marketplace in November 2021)
- Price: $52,800
- Grade: PSA Gem Mint 10
- Card Number: SCU
Panini Next Day Signature cards were released alongside their Donruss cards. The simple design features hand-signed rookie cards with a big bold player picture occupying most of the front card space.
Athletes were provided with an unknown number of cards that they could distribute to family and friends as they liked. This makes the card set more interesting to collectors and increases the value. On this particular card, the big picture of Curry has a nice blue autograph towards the center that’s been graded as a 10 by PSA. The back of the card has some of Curry’s playing stats from 3 of his College years.
It’s been graded by PSA as a Gem Mint 10, a grade reserved only for a select few cards. It sold at s PWCC Marketplace Auction in November 2021 for $52,800.
9) 2009 National Treasures NBA Laundry Tag Auto #11
(Sold by PWCC Marketplace in December 2020)
- Price: $46,400
- Grade: Beckett Mint 9
- Card Number: 10/10
Once Upper Deck had finished with their Exquisite Collection releases, the Panini National Treasures cards began to take over. Panini released dual patch autograph cards that became extremely popular among collectors.
This premium card example from the Laundry Tag issue features Curry directly in the middle of the card, dribbling the ball in a Warriors uniform. Whilst the right side of the card features a pristine blue autograph, it’s the left-hand side of the card featuring dual tag patches that draws the most attention.
At the top is the NBA Logoman patch with the Warriors ‘We Believe’ logo patch underneath. Only 10 copies were released by Panini, with this card example serial stamped 10/10.
It was graded by Beckett as a Mint 9, with only 2 other card examples known to exist in better quality. It sold at a PWCC Marketplace auction in December 2020 for $46,400.
10) National Treasures Colossal Stephen Curry Auto #10
(Sold by PWCC Marketplace in December 2021)
- Price: $28,800
- Grade: Beckett NM-MT 8.5
- Card Number: 5/5
If you’re looking for a visually appealing card with nice colors, the Colossal Materials Prime card from the Panini National Treasures series is a great choice.
The front has a bold picture of Curry in an orange Warriors uniform with a nice 10 Pristine blue signature in front. The appealing part of the card is a bright, multi-color Warriors patch that’s embedded in a jersey number patch window.
Panini only released 5 copies of this card example, with this one serial stamped 3/5. It was graded by Beckett as an NM-MT 8.5 due to faint corner wear. Out of only 2 card examples sent to Beckett for grading, the other example is graded slightly higher at a 9. It sold at a PWCC Marketplace Auction in December 2021 for $28,800.
11) Limited Platinum Spotlight Stephen Curry RC Auto #156
(Sold by PWCC Marketplace in May 2021)
- Price: $27,000
- Grade: Beckett NM-MT 9.5
- Card Number: 1/1
Next is another cool-looking release from Panini that’s from the Limited Platinum Spotlight ‘Phenoms’ release. The futuristic-looking parallels feature a unique shaped design with player’s pictures, game day patches, and signatures featured within a diamond.
This example shows Curry off to the right of the card dribbling the ball whilst looking to the side. In the middle of the diamond design is a game day jersey patch and a small blue signature that’s been graded as a 10 by Beckett. The card is titled ‘Phenoms’ and includes the Limited and Warriors Logos on either side.
What makes this card so rare is that Panini only released 1 card example. The back of this card is serial stamped 1/1 and was graded by Beckett as a Gem Mint 9.5. It sold at a PWCC Marketplace Auction in May 2021 for $27,000.
12) Certified Mirror Emerald Patch Auto RC #176
(Sold by PWCC Marketplace in November 2021)
- Price: $27,000
- Grade: Beckett Mint 9
- Card Number: 3/5
Last on the list is another card from Panini. It’s part of the ‘Mirror Emerald’ card set, with 30 cards released all numbered to 5.
Each Mirror Emerald card features a shiny holographic cup design containing a game day jersey patch and player signature. The words ‘Freshman Fabric’ are printed next to the patch.
This card example shows Curry at the top, with a game-day jersey patch taking center stage inside the holographic cup. Underneath the patch is a handwritten autograph that’s graded as a 9 by Beckett.
Only 5 of these cards were released by Panini, with this particular one serial stamped 3/5 and graded as a Mint 9 by Beckett. Out of the 4 cards sent for grading, only 1 example has achieved a higher grading, making this a rare rookie card example. It sold at a PWCC Marketplace Auction in November 2021 for $27,000.
Why are Stephen Curry Rookie Cards so Expensive?
Stephen Curry is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors. Even though he still has many playing years in front of him, he’s widely regarded by most as one of the best players of all time and the greatest shooter in NBA history.
Whilst he is a 4-time NBA champion, an 8-time NBA All-Star, and a 2-time league MVP, he’s perhaps most well-known for his 3-point shooting abilities. He holds the NBA record for most 3-pointers and is thought to be one of the main reasons for other players looking to improve their own 3-point game.
He is perhaps the most exciting and popular player that’s currently playing in the league. His Golden State Warriors team won the NBA 2022 finals, with Curry playing a key role throughout the playoffs. This led to the value of his sports cards increasing exponentially.
Whilst a lot of his sports cards got a major boost in value, his rookie cards benefited the most. Rookie cards featuring game-day patches, autographs, and cool designs released in very limited quantities are the most valuable, with collectors fighting to get their hands on one.
Stephen Curry Rookie Card Buyers Guide
Whilst Curry continues to take the spotlight, and his cards will likely keep going up in price as he becomes more popular. He is contracted with the Warriors until the 2025-26 season, meaning he has at least a few playing years left before he decides if he wants to keep competing at the highest level.
According to PSA, he’s one of the most popular players sent for grading, meaning that when he does retire his cards should see a decent increase in price.
With his rookie cards continuing to trend upwards since he began playing, they will likely continue to rise.
If you’re looking for a more affordable Stephen Curry rookie, consider the 2019 Panini Prestige set. If you just want to own a card and don’t care too much about the quality, any of the lower-quality rookies will be available at a fraction of the higher-graded prices.
If you want more of a long-term investment, the Topps refractor parallel and Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Auto cards seem to be the most popular among collectors.
Best Places to Buy Stephen Curry Rookie Cards online
If you want to buy a Stephen Curry card, here are some of the most popular sites that deal in cards at affordable prices:
- eBay (eBay is a huge online marketplace that is a great place to buy and sell cards. It has thousands of daily users and allows you to customize your prices accordingly)
- Blowout Cards (A well-known resale website featuring a wide range of sports memorabilia, including sports cards)
- Dave and Adam’s Card World (Another popular website mainly dealing in sports trading cards)
If you have a bigger budget and want to purchase some rarer and more valuable Stephen Curry rookies, it’s best to use a high-end auction house such as:
Conclusion – Most Valuable Stephen Curry Rookie Cards
As Stephen Curry continues to take the NBA spotlight, breaking records and inspiring other players to change their playing styles, his sports cards continue to fetch huge prices.
His 2009 Autographed National Treasures Logoman Rookie Card #206 holds the record for the most valuable basketball card ever sold, selling at a private sale in July 2021 for $5,900,000.
FAQs
Who bought the 2009 National Treasures Logoman rookie card?
The card was bought by Alt Fund II, an investment fund managed by asset platform Alt. The fund purchased a 51% stake in the card valued at $5,900,000.
What is the best rookie card brand?
Topps is thought to be the most popular brand, with their cards highly sought after when rare examples come to the market.
Why are rookie cards more expensive?
Rookie cards are more expensive simply because they are rarer and harder to come by. They were produced at a time when the player was less well-known, therefore produced in limited quantities.
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