Is Bill Kilmer #499 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1973 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Bill Kilmer #499 sells for $242 against $1.87 raw: a $240 spread, 129× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($63.75) 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)
- $1.87
- PSA 10
- $242
- PSA 9
- $63.75
- Gem premium
- 129×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $242 | +$215 | +$190 | +$90.07 |
| PSA 9 | $63.75 | +$36.88 | +$11.88 | −$88.12 |
| PSA 8 | $20.62 | −$6.25 | −$31.25 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $1.87 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% | $108 | +$56.43 |
| 50% | $153 | +$101 |
| 75% | $197 | +$146 |
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 | $315 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $242 | −$73.06 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $145 | −$170 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $145 | −$170 | 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 Bill Kilmer #499 — FAQ
Is Bill Kilmer #499 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Bill Kilmer #499 sells for $242 against $1.87 raw: a $240 spread, 129× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($63.75) 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 Bill Kilmer #499 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Bill Kilmer #499 (Football Cards 1973 Topps) sells for about $242 versus $1.87 for a raw near-mint copy — a 129× premium as of Sep 2, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Bill Kilmer #499?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $315, ahead of PSA 10 at $242. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Bill Kilmer #499 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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