Is Tom Brady #29 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2009 Topps Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tom Brady #29 sells for $167 against $12.21 raw: a $155 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.87) 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)
- $12.21
- PSA 10
- $167
- PSA 9
- $39.87
- Gem premium
- 14×
- 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 | $167 | +$130 | +$105 | +$4.54 |
| PSA 9 | $39.87 | +$2.66 | −$22.34 | −$122 |
| PSA 8 | $22.00 | −$15.21 | −$40.21 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $12.21 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% | $71.59 | +$9.38 |
| 50% | $103 | +$41.10 |
| 75% | $135 | +$72.82 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 18%. 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 | $217 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $167 | −$50.25 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $100 | −$117 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $100 | −$117 | 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 | $167 | $100 | $217 | $100 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $46.78 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $39.87 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $22.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2009 Topps Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Steven Jackson [Blue Refractor] #16 2009 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/W4oAAeSwZAxqKKlD/s-l500.jpg)
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![Aaron Rodgers [Refractor] #22 2009 Topps Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qv0AAeSwQ61qPRPD/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Tom Brady #29 — FAQ
Is Tom Brady #29 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tom Brady #29 sells for $167 against $12.21 raw: a $155 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.87) 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 Tom Brady #29 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tom Brady #29 (Football Cards 2009 Topps Finest) sells for about $167 versus $12.21 for a raw near-mint copy — a 14× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tom Brady #29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $217, ahead of PSA 10 at $167. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tom Brady #29 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 Tom Brady #29 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Tom Brady #29 breaks even when it gems about 18% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $39.87).
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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