![Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 (Hockey Cards 2002 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6MAAAeSwAi5o9PUc/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2002 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 26× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 sells for $1,800 against $70.25 raw: a $1,730 spread, 26× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($93.16) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $70.25
- PSA 10
- $1,800
- PSA 9
- $93.16
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $1,800 | +$1,705 | +$1,680 | +$1,580 |
| PSA 9 | $93.16 | −$2.09 | −$27.09 | −$127 |
| PSA 8 | $57.67 | −$37.58 | −$62.58 | −$163 |
Net = sale price − $70.25 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% | $520 | +$400 |
| 50% | $947 | +$826 |
| 75% | $1,373 | +$1,253 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $2,340 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,800 | −$540 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,080 | −$1,260 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,080 | −$1,260 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,800 | $1,080 | $2,340 | $1,080 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $102 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $93.16 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $57.67 |
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
Full set checklist →![Steve Yzerman [Refractor] #4 2002 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nvkAAeSwgm9qYrUA/s-l500.jpg)
![Ed Belfour [Refractor] #134 2002 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/iXAAAeSwPmNqEoDj/s-l500.jpg)
![Rick Nash [Black Refractor] #175 2002 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3JcAAeSw9uxpsCu6/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 — FAQ
Is Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 sells for $1,800 against $70.25 raw: a $1,730 spread, 26× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($93.16) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 (Hockey Cards 2002 Topps Chrome) sells for about $1,800 versus $70.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,340, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,800. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Mario Lemieux [Refractor] #2 breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $93.16).
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.
Check my card free