Is Mark Messier [Refractor] #16 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1994 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mark Messier [Refractor] #16 sells for $117 against $30.02 raw: a $86.98 spread, 3.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($106) 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)
- $30.02
- Grade 9.5
- $117
- PSA 9
- $106
- Gem premium
- 3.9×
- 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 | $117 | +$61.98 | +$36.98 | −$63.02 |
| PSA 9 | $106 | +$51.07 | +$26.07 | −$73.93 |
| PSA 8 | $2.26 | −$52.76 | −$77.76 | −$178 |
Net = sale price − $30.02 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% | $109 | +$28.80 |
| 50% | $112 | +$31.53 |
| 75% | $114 | +$34.25 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Mark Messier [Refractor] #16 — FAQ
Is Mark Messier [Refractor] #16 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mark Messier [Refractor] #16 sells for $117 against $30.02 raw: a $86.98 spread, 3.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($106) 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.
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