Is Emmitt Smith #121 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith #121 sells for $29.47 against $1.31 raw: a $28.16 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.99) 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)
- $1.31
- PSA 10
- $29.47
- PSA 9
- $28.99
- Gem premium
- 22×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $29.47 | +$3.16 | −$21.84 | −$122 |
| PSA 9 | $28.99 | +$2.68 | −$22.32 | −$122 |
| PSA 8 | $15.49 | −$10.82 | −$35.82 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $1.31 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% | $29.11 | −$22.20 |
| 50% | $29.23 | −$22.08 |
| 75% | $29.35 | −$21.96 |
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 | $38.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $29.47 | −$8.53 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $18.00 | −$20.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $18.00 | −$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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $29.47 | $18.00 | $38.00 | $18.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $29.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $28.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $15.49 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Emmitt Smith #121 — FAQ
Is Emmitt Smith #121 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith #121 sells for $29.47 against $1.31 raw: a $28.16 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.99) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Emmitt Smith #121 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith #121 (Football Cards 1996 Topps) sells for about $29.47 versus $1.31 for a raw near-mint copy — a 22× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Emmitt Smith #121?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $38.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $29.47. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Emmitt Smith #121 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.
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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