![Troy Aikman [Refractor] #36 (Football Cards 1997 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CtEAAeSw2OhqX7tb/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Troy Aikman [Refractor] #36 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Troy Aikman [Refractor] #36 sells for $75.00 against $23.19 raw: a $51.81 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($68.01) 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)
- $23.19
- Grade 9.5
- $75.00
- PSA 9
- $68.01
- Gem premium
- 3.2×
- 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 | $75.00 | +$26.81 | +$1.81 | −$98.19 |
| PSA 9 | $68.01 | +$19.82 | −$5.18 | −$105 |
| PSA 8 | $26.37 | −$21.82 | −$46.82 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $23.19 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% | $69.76 | −$3.43 |
| 50% | $71.50 | −$1.69 |
| 75% | $73.25 | +$0.06 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 74%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $75.00 |
| 9 | $68.01 |
| 8 | $26.37 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Troy Aikman [Refractor] #36 — FAQ
Is Troy Aikman [Refractor] #36 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Troy Aikman [Refractor] #36 sells for $75.00 against $23.19 raw: a $51.81 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($68.01) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Troy Aikman [Refractor] #36 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Troy Aikman [Refractor] #36 breaks even when it gems about 74% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $68.01).
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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