Is Steve Smith Refractor #279 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Finest Embossed · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Steve Smith Refractor #279 sells for $54.00 against $6.50 raw: a $47.50 spread, 8.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.42) 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)
- $6.50
- Grade 9.5
- $54.00
- PSA 9
- $49.42
- Gem premium
- 8.3×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $54.00 | +$22.50 | −$2.50 | −$103 |
| PSA 9 | $49.42 | +$17.92 | −$7.08 | −$107 |
Net = sale price − $6.50 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% | $50.56 | −$5.94 |
| 50% | $51.71 | −$4.79 |
| 75% | $52.86 | −$3.64 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Other 1997 Finest Embossed cards worth checking
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Grading Steve Smith Refractor #279 — FAQ
Is Steve Smith Refractor #279 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Steve Smith Refractor #279 sells for $54.00 against $6.50 raw: a $47.50 spread, 8.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.42) 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.
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