Is Mario Lemieux [Black Refractor] #2 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2002 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mario Lemieux [Black Refractor] #2 sells for $578 against $463 raw: a $115 spread, 1.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($525) 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)
- $463
- Grade 9.5
- $578
- PSA 9
- $525
- Gem premium
- 1.2×
- 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 | $578 | +$90.00 | +$65.00 | −$35.00 |
| PSA 9 | $525 | +$37.28 | +$12.28 | −$87.72 |
Net = sale price − $463 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% | $538 | +$25.46 |
| 50% | $552 | +$38.64 |
| 75% | $565 | +$51.82 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $578 |
| 9 | $525 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2002 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
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Grading Mario Lemieux [Black Refractor] #2 — FAQ
Is Mario Lemieux [Black Refractor] #2 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mario Lemieux [Black Refractor] #2 sells for $578 against $463 raw: a $115 spread, 1.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($525) 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.
Is your hockey card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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