Is Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2004 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 brings $241 versus $111 raw — a $130 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($76.95) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $111
- PSA 10
- $241
- PSA 9
- $76.95
- Gem premium
- 2.2×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $241 | +$105 | +$79.84 | −$20.16 |
| PSA 9 | $76.95 | −$58.71 | −$83.71 | −$184 |
| PSA 8 | $32.76 | −$103 | −$128 | −$228 |
Net = sale price − $111 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% | $118 | −$42.82 |
| 50% | $159 | −$1.94 |
| 75% | $200 | +$38.95 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 51%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $313 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $241 | −$72.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $144 | −$169 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $144 | −$169 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $241 | $144 | $313 | $144 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $85.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $76.95 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $32.76 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $26.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2004 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Carmelo Anthony [Gold Refractor] #15 2004 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ksgAAeSw0iNqS~7-/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #8 2004 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nI4AAeSwZl5qVwYF/s-l500.jpg)
![Dwight Howard [Gold Refractor] #166 2004 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tHYAAeSwIaRplWaU/s-l500.jpg)
![Tim Duncan [Gold Refractor] #50 2004 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kPgAAeSw~cFpilSs/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 — FAQ
Is Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 brings $241 versus $111 raw — a $130 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($76.95) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 (Basketball Cards 2004 Topps Chrome) sells for about $241 versus $111 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.2× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $313, ahead of PSA 10 at $241. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 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.
What gem rate makes grading Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Tim Duncan [Black Refractor] #50 breaks even when it gems about 51% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $76.95).
Is your basketball 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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