Is Mark Gastineau #4 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1985 Topps NFL Star Set · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mark Gastineau #4 sells for $30.00 against $1.17 raw: a $28.83 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.92) 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)
- $1.17
- Grade 9.5
- $30.00
- PSA 9
- $26.92
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $30.00 | +$3.83 | −$21.17 | −$121 |
| PSA 9 | $26.92 | +$0.75 | −$24.25 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $10.00 | −$16.17 | −$41.17 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $1.17 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% | $27.69 | −$23.48 |
| 50% | $28.46 | −$22.71 |
| 75% | $29.23 | −$21.94 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Mark Gastineau #4 — FAQ
Is Mark Gastineau #4 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mark Gastineau #4 sells for $30.00 against $1.17 raw: a $28.83 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.92) 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.
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