Is Brian Sipe #516 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1976 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Brian Sipe #516 sells for $1,285 against $3.63 raw: a $1,281 spread, 354× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($200) 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
- $1,285
- PSA 9
- $200
- Gem premium
- 354×
- 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 | $1,285 | +$1,256 | +$1,231 | +$1,131 |
| PSA 9 | $200 | +$171 | +$146 | +$46.36 |
| PSA 8 | $65.85 | +$37.22 | +$12.22 | −$87.78 |
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% | $471 | +$418 |
| 50% | $742 | +$689 |
| 75% | $1,013 | +$960 |
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 | $1,670 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,285 | −$385 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $771 | −$899 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $771 | −$899 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1976 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Brian Sipe #516 — FAQ
Is Brian Sipe #516 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Brian Sipe #516 sells for $1,285 against $3.63 raw: a $1,281 spread, 354× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($200) 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 Brian Sipe #516 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Brian Sipe #516 (Football Cards 1976 Topps) sells for about $1,285 versus $3.63 for a raw near-mint copy — a 354× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Brian Sipe #516?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,670, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,285. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Brian Sipe #516 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your football card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
