![Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1 (Football Cards 1994 Topps Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BDcAAeSwjYdqUHBr/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1994 Topps Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1 sells for $3,600 against $135 raw: a $3,465 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($575) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $135
- PSA 10
- $3,600
- PSA 9
- $575
- Gem premium
- 27×
- 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 | $3,600 | +$3,440 | +$3,415 | +$3,315 |
| PSA 9 | $575 | +$415 | +$390 | +$290 |
| PSA 8 | $205 | +$44.88 | +$19.88 | −$80.12 |
Net = sale price − $135 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% | $1,331 | +$1,146 |
| 50% | $2,088 | +$1,903 |
| 75% | $2,844 | +$2,659 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $4,680 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,600 | −$1,080 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,160 | −$2,520 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,160 | −$2,520 | 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 | $3,600 | $2,160 | $4,680 | $2,160 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $1,221 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $575 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $205 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $159 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1994 Topps Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Troy Aikman [Refractor] #202 1994 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/RSYAAeSwW0ZqVk1x/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Irvin [Refractor] #79 1994 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/M58AAeSwe4RqVlAB/s-l500.jpg)
![Lawrence Taylor [Refractor] #193 1994 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HGwAAeSwzDRqVa2m/s-l500.jpg)
![Joe Montana [Refractor] #172 1994 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UeAAAeSwcddqNU2K/s-l500.jpg)
![Jerry Rice [Refractor] #12 1994 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ZJ4AAeSwwHZqTtIc/s-l500.jpg)
![John Elway [Refractor] #119 1994 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/S5MAAOSwiH1fdUUS/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1 — FAQ
Is Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1 sells for $3,600 against $135 raw: a $3,465 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($575) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1 (Football Cards 1994 Topps Finest) sells for about $3,600 versus $135 for a raw near-mint copy — a 27× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $4,680, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,600. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #1 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 football 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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