Basketball collecting guide
Kobe Bryant1996-97 Finest #74 · base with coating
Coating state is part of the collecting target for Kobe’s Finest #74.
With Finest #74, two buyers can agree on the player, product, number and grade and still mean different cards. A collector seeking a copy with its coating has a specific preservation goal. Begin by deciding whether that intact state matters to your collection before comparing prices or appearance.
Match the coating designation
PSA has a CardFacts entry specifically for Kobe #74 with coating and a separate #74 entry. Put the with-coating designation into your search and verify it on the holder or against the actual card. Check the finish separately as well. The words Finest and coating establish different parts of the description from the word Refractor. 1 2
The player behind the card
Bryant played 15.5 minutes a game as a Lakers rookie. The coating question changes which Finest copy belongs in a collection, but both surfaces point back to that same limited role in 1996–97. 5 6
The card’s season
1996-97 · Los Angeles Lakers
NBA regular season
71 games · 7.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. 5
Examine the film without disturbing it
Ask for the whole front under diffuse light, then a close view of the edges of the coating. Record any visible lifting, scratching or cloudiness and where you see it. A seller may be able to photograph a distracting mark more clearly from another angle. Preserve the coating in place so the object you assess is the one you intend to collect. 1 3
Compare prices within the coating state
PSA reports a with-coating PSA 8 auction at $214 on July 31, 2026 and a with-coating PSA 10 auction at $1,193 on January 12. Six months separate the transactions. The difference includes both time and grade, so those two records alone cannot tell you the current grade premium. Check newer with-coating sales in the grade that fits the purchase. 1
Documented prices
PSA-reported sale
$1,193 USD · PSA 10
Jan 12, 2026. PSA reports this transaction in its archive.
View the PSA referenceConfirm the Finest coating is present. An uncoated card does not fill this slot.
Current eBay Listings
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Current asking prices are marketplace listings, not verified sales or appraisals.
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Collector questions
Can I use a price that omits the coating state?
Set it aside until the holder or photographs establish which example sold. The with-coating entry has its own sale history.
Would peeling the film help with evaluation?
Leave it in place. Its presence defines the version under consideration, and removal changes the card’s condition state.