Is John Bunting #438 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1982 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 John Bunting #438 brings $28.37 versus $1.48 raw — a $26.89 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($12.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.48
- PSA 10
- $28.37
- PSA 9
- $12.50
- Gem premium
- 19×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $28.37 | +$1.89 | −$23.11 | −$123 |
| PSA 9 | $12.50 | −$13.98 | −$38.98 | −$139 |
| PSA 8 | $12.02 | −$14.46 | −$39.46 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $1.48 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% | $16.47 | −$35.01 |
| 50% | $20.44 | −$31.04 |
| 75% | $24.40 | −$27.08 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $37.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $28.37 | −$8.63 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $17.00 | −$20.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $17.00 | −$20.00 | 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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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading John Bunting #438 — FAQ
Is John Bunting #438 worth grading?
A PSA 10 John Bunting #438 brings $28.37 versus $1.48 raw — a $26.89 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($12.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 John Bunting #438 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 John Bunting #438 (Football Cards 1982 Topps) sells for about $28.37 versus $1.48 for a raw near-mint copy — a 19× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for John Bunting #438?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $37.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $28.37. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does John Bunting #438 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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