Is Mario Andretti [Aqua Checker Flag Refractor] #161 worth grading?
Racing · Racing Cards 2025 Topps Chrome Formula 1 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 13× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Mario Andretti [Aqua Checker Flag Refractor] #161 sells for $45.08 against $3.51 raw: a $41.57 spread, 13× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($15.38) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.51
- PSA 10
- $45.08
- PSA 9
- $15.38
- Gem premium
- 13×
- As of
- Jul 11, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $45.08 | +$16.57 | −$8.43 | −$108 |
| PSA 9 | $15.38 | −$13.13 | −$38.13 | −$138 |
| PSA 8 | $8.13 | −$20.38 | −$45.38 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $3.51 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $22.80 | −$30.70 |
| 50% | $30.23 | −$23.28 |
| 75% | $37.66 | −$15.85 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $59.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $45.08 | −$13.92 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $27.00 | −$32.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $27.00 | −$32.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $45.08 | $27.00 | $59.00 | $27.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $30.14 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $15.38 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8.13 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Mario Andretti [Aqua Checker Flag Refractor] #161 — FAQ
Is Mario Andretti [Aqua Checker Flag Refractor] #161 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mario Andretti [Aqua Checker Flag Refractor] #161 sells for $45.08 against $3.51 raw: a $41.57 spread, 13× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($15.38) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Mario Andretti [Aqua Checker Flag Refractor] #161 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mario Andretti [Aqua Checker Flag Refractor] #161 (Racing Cards 2025 Topps Chrome Formula 1) sells for about $45.08 versus $3.51 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mario Andretti [Aqua Checker Flag Refractor] #161?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $59.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $45.08. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mario Andretti [Aqua Checker Flag Refractor] #161 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Is your racing card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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