Is Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor, w/Coating] #R5 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor, w/Coating] #R5 sells for $78.00 against $19.48 raw: a $58.52 spread, 4.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($71.00) 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)
- $19.48
- Grade 9.5
- $78.00
- PSA 9
- $71.00
- Gem premium
- 4.0×
- 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 | $78.00 | +$33.52 | +$8.52 | −$91.48 |
| PSA 9 | $71.00 | +$26.52 | +$1.52 | −$98.48 |
| PSA 8 | $48.75 | +$4.27 | −$20.73 | −$121 |
Net = sale price − $19.48 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% | $72.75 | +$3.27 |
| 50% | $74.50 | +$5.02 |
| 75% | $76.25 | +$6.77 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
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Other 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty cards worth checking
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![Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #R9 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Av4AAeSwgqhqm5Ux/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [w/Coating] #R1 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gd8AAeSwZZBqDTOg/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor, w/Coating] #R5 — FAQ
Is Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor, w/Coating] #R5 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor, w/Coating] #R5 sells for $78.00 against $19.48 raw: a $58.52 spread, 4.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($71.00) 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.
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