Is John Unitas #12 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1965 Philadelphia · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 John Unitas #12 sells for $4,415 against $28.05 raw: a $4,387 spread, 157× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,381) 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)
- $28.05
- PSA 10
- $4,415
- PSA 9
- $1,381
- Gem premium
- 157×
- 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 | $4,415 | +$4,362 | +$4,337 | +$4,237 |
| PSA 9 | $1,381 | +$1,328 | +$1,303 | +$1,203 |
| PSA 8 | $345 | +$292 | +$267 | +$167 |
Net = sale price − $28.05 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% | $2,139 | +$2,061 |
| 50% | $2,898 | +$2,820 |
| 75% | $3,656 | +$3,578 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $5,739 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $4,415 | −$1,324 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,649 | −$3,090 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,649 | −$3,090 | 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 John Unitas #12 — FAQ
Is John Unitas #12 worth grading?
A PSA 10 John Unitas #12 sells for $4,415 against $28.05 raw: a $4,387 spread, 157× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,381) 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 John Unitas #12 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 John Unitas #12 (Football Cards 1965 Philadelphia) sells for about $4,415 versus $28.05 for a raw near-mint copy — a 157× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for John Unitas #12?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $5,739, ahead of PSA 10 at $4,415. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does John Unitas #12 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.
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