![Alex Molden [Precious Metal Gems] #170 (Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OF4AAeSwz0JqlgEo/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Alex Molden [Precious Metal Gems] #170 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Alex Molden [Precious Metal Gems] #170 sells for $825 against $125 raw: a $700 spread, 6.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($750) 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)
- $125
- Grade 9.5
- $825
- PSA 9
- $750
- Gem premium
- 6.6×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $825 | +$675 | +$650 | +$550 |
| PSA 9 | $750 | +$600 | +$575 | +$475 |
Net = sale price − $125 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% | $769 | +$594 |
| 50% | $788 | +$613 |
| 75% | $806 | +$631 |
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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Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
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Grading Alex Molden [Precious Metal Gems] #170 — FAQ
Is Alex Molden [Precious Metal Gems] #170 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Alex Molden [Precious Metal Gems] #170 sells for $825 against $125 raw: a $700 spread, 6.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($750) 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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