Is Joe Montana #DT-14 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2019 Donruss Optic Downtown · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Joe Montana #DT-14 brings $2,180 versus $800 raw — a $1,380 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($500) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $800
- PSA 10
- $2,180
- PSA 9
- $500
- Gem premium
- 2.7×
- 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 | $2,180 | +$1,355 | +$1,330 | +$1,230 |
| PSA 9 | $500 | −$325 | −$350 | −$450 |
Net = sale price − $800 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% | $920 | +$69.90 |
| 50% | $1,340 | +$490 |
| 75% | $1,760 | +$910 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 21%. 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 | $2,833 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $2,180 | −$653 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,308 | −$1,525 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,308 | −$1,525 | 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 | $2,180 | $1,308 | $2,833 | $1,308 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $550 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $500 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2019 Donruss Optic Downtown cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Joe Montana #DT-14 — FAQ
Is Joe Montana #DT-14 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Joe Montana #DT-14 brings $2,180 versus $800 raw — a $1,380 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($500) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Joe Montana #DT-14 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Joe Montana #DT-14 (Football Cards 2019 Donruss Optic Downtown) sells for about $2,180 versus $800 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.7× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Joe Montana #DT-14?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,833, ahead of PSA 10 at $2,180. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Joe Montana #DT-14 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 Joe Montana #DT-14 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Joe Montana #DT-14 breaks even when it gems about 21% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $500).
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.
Check my card free