Is Caron Butler #79 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2002 Topps Pristine · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Caron Butler #79 sell for $9.99, only $8.30 above the $1.69 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($3.99) 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)
- $1.69
- Grade 9.5
- $9.99
- PSA 9
- $3.99
- Gem premium
- 5.9×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $9.99 | −$16.70 | −$41.70 | −$142 |
| PSA 9 | $3.99 | −$22.70 | −$47.70 | −$148 |
Net = sale price − $1.69 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% | $5.49 | −$46.20 |
| 50% | $6.99 | −$44.70 |
| 75% | $8.49 | −$43.20 |
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 #79 — FAQ
Is Caron Butler #79 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Caron Butler #79 sell for $9.99, only $8.30 above the $1.69 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($3.99) 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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