Is Jim Kelly [Refractor] #287 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Topps Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Jim Kelly [Refractor] #287 sells for $61.00 against $4.19 raw: a $56.81 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($55.00) 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)
- $4.19
- Grade 9.5
- $61.00
- PSA 9
- $55.00
- Gem premium
- 15×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $61.00 | +$31.81 | +$6.81 | −$93.19 |
| PSA 9 | $55.00 | +$25.81 | +$0.81 | −$99.19 |
Net = sale price − $4.19 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% | $56.50 | +$2.31 |
| 50% | $58.00 | +$3.81 |
| 75% | $59.50 | +$5.31 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Jim Kelly [Refractor] #287 — FAQ
Is Jim Kelly [Refractor] #287 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Jim Kelly [Refractor] #287 sells for $61.00 against $4.19 raw: a $56.81 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($55.00) 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.
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