![Tony Gonzalez [Precious Metal Gems] #193 (Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LcoAAeSw7sJqRn3K/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Tony Gonzalez [Precious Metal Gems] #193 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1997 Metal Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Tony Gonzalez [Precious Metal Gems] #193 sells for $3,478 against $280 raw: a $3,198 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,162) 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)
- $280
- Grade 9.5
- $3,478
- PSA 9
- $3,162
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 9.5 | $3,478 | +$3,173 | +$3,148 | +$3,048 |
| PSA 9 | $3,162 | +$2,857 | +$2,832 | +$2,732 |
Net = sale price − $280 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% | $3,241 | +$2,911 |
| 50% | $3,320 | +$2,990 |
| 75% | $3,399 | +$3,069 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $3,478 |
| 9 | $3,162 |
| 7 | $1,625 |
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 Tony Gonzalez [Precious Metal Gems] #193 — FAQ
Is Tony Gonzalez [Precious Metal Gems] #193 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Tony Gonzalez [Precious Metal Gems] #193 sells for $3,478 against $280 raw: a $3,198 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,162) 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.
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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