IVERSON’S 1997 SKYBOX “ESSENTIAL CREDENTIALS NOW” CARD BECOMES ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE 1990S BASKETBALL CARDS EVER SOLD
By Intelligent Collector Staff
Allen Iverson just made another Hall of Fame move, this time in the auction record books.
A 1997 SkyBox E-X 2001 Essential Credentials Now insert card of the 11-time NBA All-Star sold for $701,500 at Heritage Auctions on February 1, obliterating the previous record for any Iverson card and becoming one of the most valuable basketball cards from the 1990s ever sold at public auction.
The card, graded PSA Excellent 5, is numbered 2/3 — one of only three copies ever produced. It was the highlight of Heritage’s Winter Sports Cards Catalog Auction, which realized more than $10.6 million across two days and drew more than 2,300 bidders.
Before this sale, the record for an Iverson card stood at $79,200, achieved in 2021 with a one-of-one 2016-17 Panini Logoman Autograph. That record is now firmly in the rearview mirror.
“This card is part of the origin story for 1990s basketball inserts, and it’s incredibly rare,” said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage. “Collectors today understand how transformative that era was, and Iverson was at the center of it — not just as a player, but as a cultural icon.”
The sale places the card among the 11 most valuable sports cards from the 1990s ever sold publicly, according to Sports Collectors Daily. It also underscores a broader trend in the hobby: a surging appreciation for scarce, condition-sensitive inserts from the late 20th century, especially when tied to era-defining players.
Drafted first overall in 1996, Iverson redefined the point guard position and brought streetwear style and uncompromising authenticity to the NBA. His legacy resonates not just with basketball fans, but with a new generation of collectors who view the ’90s as a golden age of the hobby.
That’s part of why rare inserts like this are becoming increasingly difficult to pry loose from private collections, and why their prices continue to climb.
This landmark sale also answers a question on the minds of many high-end consignors: Where’s the best place to sell a truly valuable sports card? At Heritage, the answer played out in real time, with a bidding war that elevated Iverson into a new tier of the hobby’s elite.
Intelligent Collector brings editorial expertise to the world of sports memorabilia collecting, offering collectors deep insights into market trends, legendary athletes, and the stories behind iconic moments in sports history. Our experienced writers and industry experts help readers navigate the dynamic sports collecting landscape with authority, while our connection to Heritage Auctions—the best place to sell sports memorabilia—ensures our coverage reflects real market knowledge that serious collectors and investors can trust.