Is R.C. Owens #61 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1961 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 R.C. Owens #61 sells for $755 against $3.63 raw: a $751 spread, 208× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.00) 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)
- $3.63
- PSA 10
- $755
- PSA 9
- $37.00
- Gem premium
- 208×
- 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 | $755 | +$726 | +$701 | +$601 |
| PSA 9 | $37.00 | +$8.37 | −$16.63 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $18.50 | −$10.13 | −$35.13 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $3.63 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% | $216 | +$163 |
| 50% | $396 | +$342 |
| 75% | $575 | +$522 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. 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 | $981 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $755 | −$226 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $453 | −$528 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $453 | −$528 | 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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Grading R.C. Owens #61 — FAQ
Is R.C. Owens #61 worth grading?
A PSA 10 R.C. Owens #61 sells for $755 against $3.63 raw: a $751 spread, 208× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.00) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 R.C. Owens #61 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 R.C. Owens #61 (Football Cards 1961 Topps) sells for about $755 versus $3.63 for a raw near-mint copy — a 208× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for R.C. Owens #61?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $981, ahead of PSA 10 at $755. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does R.C. Owens #61 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 R.C. Owens #61 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting R.C. Owens #61 breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $37.00).
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