![Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #242 (Football Cards 1996 Topps Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xI0AAeSwfVVpjhLC/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #242 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Topps Finest · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 7.2× premium in Grade 9.5
A Grade 9.5 Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #242 sells for $199 against $27.50 raw: a $172 spread, 7.2× the ungraded price. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $27.50
- Grade 9.5
- $199
- Gem premium
- 7.2×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $199 | +$147 | +$122 | +$21.50 |
| PSA 8 | $24.74 | −$27.76 | −$52.76 | −$153 |
Net = sale price − $27.50 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $199 |
| 8 | $24.74 |
| 7 | $17.39 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Topps Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Cris Carter [Refractor] #312 1996 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BoYAAeSw6~tptvoe/s-l500.jpg)
![Brian Dawkins [Refractor] #344 1996 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OgUAAeSwzEZqL~zM/s-l500.jpg)
![Mike Alstott [Refractor] #335 1996 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/o6sAAeSw8s9pclhu/s-l500.jpg)
![Emmitt Smith [Refractor] #265 1996 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SFwAAeSwT-tplJaW/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #242 — FAQ
Is Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #242 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #242 sells for $199 against $27.50 raw: a $172 spread, 7.2× the ungraded price. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
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.
Check my card free