Is Valentin Castellanos [Aqua] #15 worth grading?
Soccer · Soccer Cards 2021 Topps Chrome MLS Sapphire · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Valentin Castellanos [Aqua] #15 sell for $20.00, only $2.50 above the $17.50 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.07) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $17.50
- Grade 9.5
- $20.00
- PSA 9
- $18.07
- Gem premium
- 1.1×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $20.00 | −$22.50 | −$47.50 | −$148 |
| PSA 9 | $18.07 | −$24.43 | −$49.43 | −$149 |
Net = sale price − $17.50 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% | $18.55 | −$48.95 |
| 50% | $19.04 | −$48.47 |
| 75% | $19.52 | −$47.98 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Other 2021 Topps Chrome MLS Sapphire cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Valentin Castellanos [Aqua] #15 — FAQ
Is Valentin Castellanos [Aqua] #15 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Valentin Castellanos [Aqua] #15 sell for $20.00, only $2.50 above the $17.50 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.07) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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