Is Barry Sanders [Gold] #M16 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Collector's Choice MVP · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Barry Sanders [Gold] #M16 sells for $64.00 against $7.00 raw: a $57.00 spread, 9.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($58.50) 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)
- $7.00
- Grade 9.5
- $64.00
- PSA 9
- $58.50
- Gem premium
- 9.1×
- 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 | $64.00 | +$32.00 | +$7.00 | −$93.00 |
| PSA 9 | $58.50 | +$26.50 | +$1.50 | −$98.50 |
| PSA 8 | $19.99 | −$12.01 | −$37.01 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $7.00 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% | $59.88 | +$2.88 |
| 50% | $61.25 | +$4.25 |
| 75% | $62.63 | +$5.63 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Other 1996 Collector's Choice MVP cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Barry Sanders [Gold] #M16 — FAQ
Is Barry Sanders [Gold] #M16 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Barry Sanders [Gold] #M16 sells for $64.00 against $7.00 raw: a $57.00 spread, 9.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($58.50) 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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