Is Jim Kelly #5 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Playoff Illusions · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Jim Kelly #5 sell for $19.00, only $16.30 above the $2.70 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($16.82) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.70
- Grade 9.5
- $19.00
- PSA 9
- $16.82
- Gem premium
- 7.0×
- 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 | $19.00 | −$8.70 | −$33.70 | −$134 |
| PSA 9 | $16.82 | −$10.88 | −$35.88 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $2.70 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% | $17.37 | −$35.33 |
| 50% | $17.91 | −$34.79 |
| 75% | $18.45 | −$34.25 |
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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Other 1996 Playoff Illusions cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Jim Kelly #5 — FAQ
Is Jim Kelly #5 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Jim Kelly #5 sell for $19.00, only $16.30 above the $2.70 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($16.82) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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