Is Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Zenith · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 sells for $96.10 against $3.73 raw: a $92.37 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.45) 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)
- $3.73
- PSA 10
- $96.10
- PSA 9
- $31.45
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $96.10 | +$67.37 | +$42.37 | −$57.63 |
| PSA 9 | $31.45 | +$2.72 | −$22.28 | −$122 |
| PSA 8 | $31.00 | +$2.27 | −$22.73 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $3.73 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% | $47.61 | −$6.12 |
| 50% | $63.77 | +$10.05 |
| 75% | $79.94 | +$26.21 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 34%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $125 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $96.10 | −$28.90 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $58.00 | −$67.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $58.00 | −$67.00 | 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.
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Other 1996 Zenith cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin [Artist's Proof] #Z-147 1996 Zenith card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/khMAAeSw~H9qqe9a/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 — FAQ
Is Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 sells for $96.10 against $3.73 raw: a $92.37 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.45) 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, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 (Football Cards 1996 Zenith) sells for about $96.10 versus $3.73 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $125, ahead of PSA 10 at $96.10. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 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.
What gem rate makes grading Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin #Z-147 breaks even when it gems about 34% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $31.45).
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