Is Tim Hardaway [Refractor w Coating] #278 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Tim Hardaway [Refractor w Coating] #278 sells for $83.00 against $35.51 raw: a $47.49 spread, 2.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($75.00) 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)
- $35.51
- Grade 9.5
- $83.00
- PSA 9
- $75.00
- Gem premium
- 2.3×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $83.00 | +$22.49 | −$2.51 | −$103 |
| PSA 9 | $75.00 | +$14.49 | −$10.51 | −$111 |
| PSA 8 | $67.88 | +$7.37 | −$17.63 | −$118 |
Net = sale price − $35.51 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% | $77.00 | −$8.51 |
| 50% | $79.00 | −$6.51 |
| 75% | $81.00 | −$4.51 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #50 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/keMAAeSwBOlqRmlp/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #74 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/P0kAAeSw0ZZqUPmz/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #74 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eWoAAeSwgf5qTluW/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #127 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-ssAAeSww81qNFCX/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #269 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vogAAeSwTt1qQy3R/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Tim Hardaway [Refractor w Coating] #278 — FAQ
Is Tim Hardaway [Refractor w Coating] #278 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Tim Hardaway [Refractor w Coating] #278 sells for $83.00 against $35.51 raw: a $47.49 spread, 2.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($75.00) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
