Is Caron Butler [Gold Refractor] #78 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2002 Topps Pristine · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Caron Butler [Gold Refractor] #78 sell for $26.00, only $10.84 above the $15.16 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($23.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $15.16
- Grade 9.5
- $26.00
- PSA 9
- $23.50
- Gem premium
- 1.7×
- 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 | $26.00 | −$14.16 | −$39.16 | −$139 |
| PSA 9 | $23.50 | −$16.66 | −$41.66 | −$142 |
| PSA 8 | $12.50 | −$27.66 | −$52.66 | −$153 |
Net = sale price − $15.16 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% | $24.13 | −$41.03 |
| 50% | $24.75 | −$40.41 |
| 75% | $25.38 | −$39.78 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Caron Butler [Gold Refractor] #78 — FAQ
Is Caron Butler [Gold Refractor] #78 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Caron Butler [Gold Refractor] #78 sell for $26.00, only $10.84 above the $15.16 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($23.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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