Is Barry Sanders #3 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Topps 40th Anniversary · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Barry Sanders #3 brings $30.00 versus $3.00 raw — a $27.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($26.88) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.00
- Grade 9.5
- $30.00
- PSA 9
- $26.88
- Gem premium
- 10×
- 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 | $30.00 | +$2.00 | −$23.00 | −$123 |
| PSA 9 | $26.88 | −$1.12 | −$26.12 | −$126 |
| PSA 8 | $13.50 | −$14.50 | −$39.50 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $3.00 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% | $27.66 | −$25.34 |
| 50% | $28.44 | −$24.56 |
| 75% | $29.22 | −$23.78 |
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 1996 Topps 40th Anniversary cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Barry Sanders #3 — FAQ
Is Barry Sanders #3 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Barry Sanders #3 brings $30.00 versus $3.00 raw — a $27.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($26.88) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
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