When Precious Metal Gems made their gridiron debut in the 1997 Metal Universe Football release, their print run /150 and larger checklist made them more common than their now-famous basketball counterparts. However, that number dropped to just /50 the following year, making for a heartier chase for that edition's foil-covered cards of gridiron greats. With Metal Universe releases renowned for their eye-catching design, it's little wonder this Barry Sanders issue is gorgeous even in base form. But when that circular '98 Precious Metal Gems pattern is applied to the card, it enhances the natural attributes of the issue and elevates this printing to another level entirely. That full-foil front makes PMGs some of the best-looking parallels ever produced. It also makes them difficult to find in quality condition thanks to frequent surface blemishes and chipping on the edges. Those factors could make landing this Pop. 4 PSA 8 with only five graded higher issue harder than taking down prime Sanders in the open field.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 02/28/2025.
