Is Dont'a Hightower [Autograph] #36 worth grading?

Football · Football Cards 2012 Topps Magic · full price guide →

Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw

A Grade 9.5 Dont'a Hightower [Autograph] #36 sells for $44.00 against $13.19 raw: a $30.81 spread, 3.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.95) 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): $13.19
Grade 9.5: $44.00
PSA 9: $39.95
Gem premium: 3.3×
As of: Sep 3, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Dont'a Hightower [Autograph] #36: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…	Sells for	Economy / bulk (~$25.00)	Standard (~$50.00)	Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5	$44.00	+$5.81	−$19.19	−$119
PSA 9	$39.95	+$1.76	−$23.24	−$123

Net = sale price − $13.19 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?

Dont'a Hightower [Autograph] #36: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gems	Expected sale	Expected net (standard fee)
25%	$40.96	−$22.23
50%	$41.98	−$21.21
75%	$42.99	−$20.20

At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.

Full grade ladder

Raw conditions & history →

Dont'a Hightower [Autograph] #36 graded prices by company and grade
Grade	Graded
9.5	$44.00
9	$39.95

Run your own numbers

Should I pay this?

Asking priceGrading fee

Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.

Other 2012 Topps Magic cards worth checking

Full set checklist →

Sean Lee [Autograph] #229

Raw $18.16PSA 10 $138

Luke Kuechly [Autograph] #118

Raw $44.99PSA 10 $155

J.J. Watt [Autograph] #252

Raw $80.00PSA 10 $138

Bobby Wagner [Autograph] #262

Raw $92.65PSA 10 $128

Aaron Hernandez [Autograph] #147

Raw $85.00Graded $275

Von Miller [Autograph Black Border] #106