Is George Russell #HC-5 worth grading?
Racing · Racing Cards 2024 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Helmet Collection · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 George Russell #HC-5 sells for $184 against $24.50 raw: a $159 spread, 7.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.68) 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)
- $24.50
- PSA 10
- $184
- PSA 9
- $51.68
- Gem premium
- 7.5×
- 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 | $184 | +$134 | +$109 | +$9.00 |
| PSA 9 | $51.68 | +$2.18 | −$22.82 | −$123 |
| PSA 8 | $35.00 | −$14.50 | −$39.50 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $24.50 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% | $84.63 | +$10.13 |
| 50% | $118 | +$43.09 |
| 75% | $151 | +$76.04 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 17%. 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 | $239 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $184 | −$55.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $110 | −$129 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $110 | −$129 | 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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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2024 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Helmet Collection cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Max Verstappen [Red Refractor] #HC-1 2024 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Helmet Collection card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~VkAAeSwWihqnStR/s-l500.jpg)
Grading George Russell #HC-5 — FAQ
Is George Russell #HC-5 worth grading?
A PSA 10 George Russell #HC-5 sells for $184 against $24.50 raw: a $159 spread, 7.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.68) 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 George Russell #HC-5 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 George Russell #HC-5 (Racing Cards 2024 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Helmet Collection) sells for about $184 versus $24.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 7.5× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for George Russell #HC-5?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $239, ahead of PSA 10 at $184. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does George Russell #HC-5 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 George Russell #HC-5 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting George Russell #HC-5 breaks even when it gems about 17% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.68).
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