Is Joe Montana #216 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1981 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Joe Montana #216 sells for $51,240 against $96.20 raw: a $51,144 spread, 533× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,015) 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)
- $96.20
- PSA 10
- $51,240
- PSA 9
- $3,015
- Gem premium
- 533×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $51,240 | +$51,119 | +$51,094 | +$50,994 |
| PSA 9 | $3,015 | +$2,893 | +$2,868 | +$2,768 |
| PSA 8 | $538 | +$417 | +$392 | +$292 |
Net = sale price − $96.20 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% | $15,071 | +$14,925 |
| 50% | $27,127 | +$26,981 |
| 75% | $39,184 | +$39,037 |
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 | $77,467 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $51,240 | −$26,227 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $30,744 | −$46,723 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $18,910 | −$58,557 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $51,240 | $30,744 | $77,467 | $18,910 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $8,881 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $3,015 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $538 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $238 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Joe Montana #216 — FAQ
Is Joe Montana #216 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Joe Montana #216 sells for $51,240 against $96.20 raw: a $51,144 spread, 533× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,015) 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 Joe Montana #216 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Joe Montana #216 (Football Cards 1981 Topps) sells for about $51,240 versus $96.20 for a raw near-mint copy — a 533× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Joe Montana #216?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $77,467, ahead of PSA 10 at $51,240. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Joe Montana #216 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.
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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