Is Lem Barney #12 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1970 Topps Super · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lem Barney #12 sells for $783 against $5.87 raw: a $777 spread, 133× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($72.43) 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)
- $5.87
- PSA 10
- $783
- PSA 9
- $72.43
- Gem premium
- 133×
- 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 | $783 | +$752 | +$727 | +$627 |
| PSA 9 | $72.43 | +$41.56 | +$16.56 | −$83.44 |
| PSA 8 | $45.51 | +$14.64 | −$10.36 | −$110 |
Net = sale price − $5.87 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% | $250 | +$194 |
| 50% | $427 | +$372 |
| 75% | $605 | +$549 |
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 | $1,017 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $783 | −$234 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $470 | −$547 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $470 | −$547 | 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 Lem Barney #12 — FAQ
Is Lem Barney #12 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lem Barney #12 sells for $783 against $5.87 raw: a $777 spread, 133× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($72.43) 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 Lem Barney #12 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lem Barney #12 (Football Cards 1970 Topps Super) sells for about $783 versus $5.87 for a raw near-mint copy — a 133× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lem Barney #12?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,017, ahead of PSA 10 at $783. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lem Barney #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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