Is Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #259 worth grading?

Football · Football Cards 1996 Topps Finest · full price guide →

Grading rarely pays for this card

Grade 7 copies of Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #259 sell for $18.35, only $0.00 above the $41.41 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.

Raw (NM): $41.41
Grade 7: $18.35
Gem premium: 0.4×
As of: Sep 4, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #259: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…	Sells for	Economy / bulk (~$25.00)	Standard (~$50.00)	Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 7	$18.35	−$48.06	−$73.06	−$173

Net = sale price − $41.41 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.

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Raw conditions & history →

Derrick Thomas [Refractor] #259 graded prices by company and grade
Grade	Graded
7	$18.35

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