Is Thomas Smith [Refractor w/ Coating] #31 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Topps Finest · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
PSA 10 copies of Thomas Smith [Refractor w/ Coating] #31 sell for $22.49, only $19.50 above the $2.99 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.99
- PSA 10
- $22.49
- Gem premium
- 7.5×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $22.49 | −$5.50 | −$30.50 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $2.99 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
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 | $29.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $22.49 | −$6.51 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $13.00 | −$16.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $13.00 | −$16.00 | 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.
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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Topps Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Deion Sanders [Refractor] #90 1997 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3PMAAeSwm5Bp~sLN/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Thomas Smith [Refractor w/ Coating] #31 — FAQ
Is Thomas Smith [Refractor w/ Coating] #31 worth grading?
PSA 10 copies of Thomas Smith [Refractor w/ Coating] #31 sell for $22.49, only $19.50 above the $2.99 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
How much is a PSA 10 Thomas Smith [Refractor w/ Coating] #31 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Thomas Smith [Refractor w/ Coating] #31 (Football Cards 1997 Topps Finest) sells for about $22.49 versus $2.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 7.5× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Thomas Smith [Refractor w/ Coating] #31?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $29.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $22.49. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Thomas Smith [Refractor w/ Coating] #31 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.
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