Check out this bargain I picked up (1995 Ultra Gold Medallion set; 1993 Ultra master set too!)

Estil

1995 Ultra Gold Medallion set, at regular set price!

I really lucked out on this one. I needed a 1995 Ultra set for my 1991-95 Ultra master set project and I was able to pick up this bad boy; the Gold Medallion set for the book value of the standard set! For those of you who don't remember, you only got these Gold Medallion stamped cards one per pack (and could be either a regular or insert card) so this set was a lot more difficult to assemble than a standard issue 1995 Ultra set.

Granted, it may not be as nice looking as a 1994 Score Gold Rush set (another set I'd like to get at some point) but this set fits my collection's "theme" a lot better. Again, I know it's not the most premier set in the hobby, but it's still very tough to find on Ebay and I thought I'd share it with the rest of you.

PS: I wonder if I should be REALLY daring and go for all the Gold Medallion inserts instead of just settling for the standard inserts. But the problem is that even just the regular insert sets are hard enough to find!

UPDATE: I also picked up this super tough find for my 1992-95 Fleer/Ultra master set projects too for about the same price:
1993 Ultra master set (w/ all inserts and even Eck auto)

Downtown1974

Estil, I think I have some of those inserts lying around. I will check for you. BTW, nice buy on that set!!

ajw

I've got to say, some of these early/mid 90s sets are *really* nice looking. I don't like the chrome sets of recent years (starting with Finest and Bowman's Best, I guess) but the photography and design of the Stadium Club and Ultra sets from that era are just great. I love picking up old Will Clark inserts for a few bucks when they were impossible to find and out of my price range back in the day.

Good find!

Estil

<< <i>I've got to say, some of these early/mid 90s sets are *really* nice looking. I don't like the chrome sets of recent years (starting with Finest and Bowman's Best, I guess) but the photography and design of the Stadium Club and Ultra sets from that era are just great. I love picking up old Will Clark inserts for a few bucks when they were impossible to find and out of my price range back in the day.

Good find! >>



Indeed! I'm quite surprised people are overlooking these. Maybe that'll change in a few years when those who grew up with sets from that era (me) are old enough with fund and wish to relive those memories. And those Ultra sets from that period (especially the 1992-94 sets; very beautiful designs) are indeed quite nice.

Estil

<< <i>Estil, I think I have some of those inserts lying around. I will check for you. BTW, nice buy on that set!! >>



You're welcome! I need complete sets of those inserts; I have some spare 1995 Fleer insert sets if you want to trade.

Fabfrank

Estil- Thats a great buy
I broke down tons of this product (still do, but not like back than). I wasn't crazy about the Gold medallions because the picture was the same as the regular card. The only difference was a small stamp or some Gold Foil background. One year though ( and I forget which) Ultra came out and their Gold Medallion cards were totally different than the regular cards. I think it was Ultra football, but I'm not sure.
I enjoy reading your posts about building the Ultra sets from these years. Your enthusiasm is refreshing. I think these sets are some of the best values as far as photography, originalty, card stock and size of the sets. Have fun in your quest.

Estil

<< <i>Estil- Thats a great buy
I broke down tons of this product (still do, but not like back than). I wasn't crazy about the Gold medallions because the picture was the same as the regular card. The only difference was a small stamp or some Gold Foil background. One year though ( and I forget which) Ultra came out and their Gold Medallion cards were totally different than the regular cards. I think it was Ultra football, but I'm not sure.
I enjoy reading your posts about building the Ultra sets from these years. Your enthusiasm is refreshing. I think these sets are some of the best values as far as photography, originalty, card stock and size of the sets. Have fun in your quest. >>



Well, in 1996 they made the Gold Medallion cards with a bright gold foil background; the Gold Medallion inserts still had the stamp however. The following year is when they started doing the Platnium Medallion inserts and the next year, 1998, is when they started doing different photos for the Gold/Platnium medallion inserts than the regular set photos.

So far I've completed master sets of the following:
1992 Fleer
1992 Ultra
1994 Fleer
1994 Ultra (except for the four insert sets that were seeded one per box)
1995 Fleer

tkd7

Estil,
Great pickup. I know that most modern stuff is looked at as cheap and overproduced, but when you take potential profit out of the equation, there are some great sets out there ever since Upper Deck came into the market.

I always think that when you can pick up a nice set for the cost of going to a movie, you've gotten your money's worth if you look at it once. With the sheets and binder, you got a real deal.

Southerncards

I halfheartedly am working on the 98 and 99 Platinum Medallion sets. Very nice cards.

Fabfrank

1998, is when they started doing different photos for the Gold/Platnium medallion inserts than the regular set photos.

Is that for baseball and football?

Estil

<< <i>1998, is when they started doing different photos for the Gold/Platnium medallion inserts than the regular set photos.

Is that for baseball and football? >>



Baseball. I know nothing about football.

brumbach

For 1997 the Gold Medallions had the same picture as the base card, but the Platinums were different. I think that for 1998 they were all the same again, plus the Masterpieces looked exactly like the Platinums except for a purple foil 1/1 Masterpiece designation on the back. I am pretty sure that all of the parallels are the same as the base cards for 1999 and 2000 Ultra as well. I built the 2000 Ultra Gold Medallion set, including the SPs, but eventually sold it a couple of years ago. I all but gave up on modern cards during 2000, so I don't know what the story is on the 2001 and later Ultra sets.

Estil

<< <i>I halfheartedly am working on the 98 and 99 Platinum Medallion sets. Very nice cards. >>



How far along are you? Are you also doing the Gold Medallion sets?

In the meantime, I also managed to pick up this gem for the same price (around $30 shipped):

1993 Ultra master set (w/ all inserts and even Eck auto)

Fabfrank

That's insane. The Eck auto alone goes for $20

Downtown1974

Estil, I checked on those cards for you. I just have some singles from those inserts and only one was a gold medallion. I do have a couple of the insert sets from the 95 Fleer set. I have the Smooth Leather set and the Rookie Update set. I also have the 95 Fleer update set. LMK if you need any of these.

Estil

<< <i>Estil, I checked on those cards for you. I just have some singles from those inserts and only one was a gold medallion. I do have a couple of the insert sets from the 95 Fleer set. I have the Smooth Leather set and the Rookie Update set. I also have the 95 Fleer update set. LMK if you need any of these. >>



I already have all the 1995 Fleer insert sets except for the Soaring Stars from the Update set. I do have a spare set of each the following 1995 Fleer inserts: All-Fleer, All-Rookie, All-Star, League Leader, Lumber Company, Pro-Visions if you'd like to buy or trade for those.

As for 1995 Ultra, here's the insert sets I have so far (all regular insert sets, not Gold Medallion):

Gold Medallion Rookies
Award Winner
League Leaders
Power Plus
Strikeout Kings