![1951 Bowman Reprint [Refractor,w/ Coating] #1 (Baseball Cards 1996 Topps Mantle Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/XT4AAeSwMttqWw7r/s-l1600.jpg)
Is 1951 Bowman Reprint [Refractor,w/ Coating] #1 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1996 Topps Mantle Finest · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of 1951 Bowman Reprint [Refractor,w/ Coating] #1 sell for $31.00, only $11.85 above the $19.15 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($28.00) 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)
- $19.15
- Grade 9.5
- $31.00
- PSA 9
- $28.00
- Gem premium
- 1.6×
- 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 | $31.00 | −$13.15 | −$38.15 | −$138 |
| PSA 9 | $28.00 | −$16.15 | −$41.15 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $19.15 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% | $28.75 | −$40.40 |
| 50% | $29.50 | −$39.65 |
| 75% | $30.25 | −$38.90 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $31.00 |
| 9 | $28.00 |
| 7 | $15.50 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Topps Mantle Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![1967 Topps Reprint [w/ Coating] #17 1996 Topps Mantle Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/1NkAAeSwuPVorjtP/s-l500.jpg)
![1952 Topps Reprint [w/ Coating] #2 1996 Topps Mantle Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kh8AAeSwLQFqWE2N/s-l500.jpg)
![1955 Bowman Reprint [Refractor] #5 1996 Topps Mantle Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vm0AAeSwOKhqY-7C/s-l500.jpg)
![1952 Topps Reprint [Refractor,w/ Coating] #2 1996 Topps Mantle Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/cEcAAOSwsFxjPwem/s-l500.jpg)
![1952 Topps Reprint [Refractor] #2 1996 Topps Mantle Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/7rwAAeSw8fBqaluI/s-l500.jpg)
![1955 Bowman Reprint [Refractor,w/ Coating] #5 1996 Topps Mantle Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/oAAAAeSwNlxqSlsR/s-l500.jpg)
Grading 1951 Bowman Reprint [Refractor,w/ Coating] #1 — FAQ
Is 1951 Bowman Reprint [Refractor,w/ Coating] #1 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of 1951 Bowman Reprint [Refractor,w/ Coating] #1 sell for $31.00, only $11.85 above the $19.15 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($28.00) 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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