Is Mark Clayton #3 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1985 Dolphins Police · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mark Clayton #3 sells for $66.00 against $4.17 raw: a $61.83 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.68) 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)
- $4.17
- Grade 9.5
- $66.00
- PSA 9
- $59.68
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $66.00 | +$36.83 | +$11.83 | −$88.17 |
| PSA 9 | $59.68 | +$30.51 | +$5.51 | −$94.49 |
| PSA 8 | $15.00 | −$14.17 | −$39.17 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $4.17 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% | $61.26 | +$7.09 |
| 50% | $62.84 | +$8.67 |
| 75% | $64.42 | +$10.25 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1985 Dolphins Police cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Mark Clayton #3 — FAQ
Is Mark Clayton #3 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mark Clayton #3 sells for $66.00 against $4.17 raw: a $61.83 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.68) 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.
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.
