Is Mark Messier [Silver Refractor] #M19 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1998 Topps Mystery Finest · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Mark Messier [Silver Refractor] #M19 sell for $21.00, only $14.13 above the $6.87 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($19.35) 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)
- $6.87
- Grade 9.5
- $21.00
- PSA 9
- $19.35
- Gem premium
- 3.1×
- 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 | $21.00 | −$10.87 | −$35.87 | −$136 |
| PSA 9 | $19.35 | −$12.52 | −$37.52 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $6.87 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% | $19.76 | −$37.11 |
| 50% | $20.18 | −$36.70 |
| 75% | $20.59 | −$36.28 |
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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Should I pay this?
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Other 1998 Topps Mystery Finest cards worth checking
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![Patrick Roy [Gold] #M16 1998 Topps Mystery Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DLAAAeSwsHRqVqDk/s-l500.jpg)
![Eric Lindros [Gold Refractor] #M9 1998 Topps Mystery Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KvAAAeSw-ABqUacO/s-l500.jpg)
![Wayne Gretzky [Silver Refractor] #M4 1998 Topps Mystery Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8lMAAeSwx8pqO0HD/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Mark Messier [Silver Refractor] #M19 — FAQ
Is Mark Messier [Silver Refractor] #M19 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Mark Messier [Silver Refractor] #M19 sell for $21.00, only $14.13 above the $6.87 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($19.35) 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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