![Emmitt Smith [Gold] #1 (Football Cards 1997 Donruss Elite) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mOsAAOSwzDVkvXqB/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Emmitt Smith [Gold] #1 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Donruss Elite · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 8 copies of Emmitt Smith [Gold] #1 sell for $19.99, only $14.87 above the $5.12 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $5.12
- Grade 8
- $19.99
- Gem premium
- 3.9×
- 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 — Grade 8 | $19.99 | −$10.13 | −$35.13 | −$135 |
| PSA 8 | $19.99 | −$10.13 | −$35.13 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $5.12 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 8 | $19.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Donruss Elite cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![John Elway [Gold] #13 1997 Donruss Elite card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/V94AAeSwmNdpdsvw/s-l500.jpg)
![Dan Marino [Gold] #2 1997 Donruss Elite card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-yEAAeSwoslqBgQV/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Emmitt Smith [Gold] #1 — FAQ
Is Emmitt Smith [Gold] #1 worth grading?
Grade 8 copies of Emmitt Smith [Gold] #1 sell for $19.99, only $14.87 above the $5.12 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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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