Is Merlin Olsen #181 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Merlin Olsen #181 sells for $450 against $3.00 raw: a $447 spread, 150× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($164) 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)
- $3.00
- PSA 10
- $450
- PSA 9
- $164
- Gem premium
- 150×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $450 | +$422 | +$397 | +$297 |
| PSA 9 | $164 | +$136 | +$111 | +$10.59 |
| PSA 8 | $39.99 | +$11.99 | −$13.01 | −$113 |
Net = sale price − $3.00 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% | $235 | +$182 |
| 50% | $307 | +$254 |
| 75% | $378 | +$325 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $585 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $450 | −$135 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $270 | −$315 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $270 | −$315 | 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.
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Grading Merlin Olsen #181 — FAQ
Is Merlin Olsen #181 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Merlin Olsen #181 sells for $450 against $3.00 raw: a $447 spread, 150× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($164) 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 Merlin Olsen #181 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Merlin Olsen #181 (Football Cards 1972 Topps) sells for about $450 versus $3.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 150× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Merlin Olsen #181?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $585, ahead of PSA 10 at $450. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Merlin Olsen #181 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.
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