Is Lewis Hamilton [Refractor] #96 worth grading?
Racing · Racing Cards 2021 Topps Chrome Formula 1 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lewis Hamilton [Refractor] #96 sells for $41.75 against $2.42 raw: a $39.33 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) 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)
- $2.42
- PSA 10
- $41.75
- PSA 9
- $31.00
- Gem premium
- 17×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $41.75 | +$14.33 | −$10.67 | −$111 |
| PSA 9 | $31.00 | +$3.58 | −$21.42 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $28.36 | +$0.94 | −$24.06 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $2.42 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% | $33.69 | −$18.73 |
| 50% | $36.38 | −$16.05 |
| 75% | $39.06 | −$13.36 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $54.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $41.75 | −$12.25 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $25.00 | −$29.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $25.00 | −$29.00 | 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.
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Grading Lewis Hamilton [Refractor] #96 — FAQ
Is Lewis Hamilton [Refractor] #96 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lewis Hamilton [Refractor] #96 sells for $41.75 against $2.42 raw: a $39.33 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Lewis Hamilton [Refractor] #96 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lewis Hamilton [Refractor] #96 (Racing Cards 2021 Topps Chrome Formula 1) sells for about $41.75 versus $2.42 for a raw near-mint copy — a 17× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lewis Hamilton [Refractor] #96?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $54.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $41.75. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lewis Hamilton [Refractor] #96 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.
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