Is Dan Marino #3 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1984 Topps NFL Star Set · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Dan Marino #3 sells for $366 against $5.07 raw: a $361 spread, 72× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($209) 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)
- $5.07
- PSA 10
- $366
- PSA 9
- $209
- Gem premium
- 72×
- 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 | $366 | +$336 | +$311 | +$211 |
| PSA 9 | $209 | +$178 | +$153 | +$53.43 |
| PSA 8 | $57.56 | +$27.49 | +$2.49 | −$97.51 |
Net = sale price − $5.07 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% | $248 | +$193 |
| 50% | $287 | +$232 |
| 75% | $326 | +$271 |
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 | $475 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $366 | −$109 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $219 | −$256 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $219 | −$256 | 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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Other 1984 Topps NFL Star Set cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Dan Marino #3 — FAQ
Is Dan Marino #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dan Marino #3 sells for $366 against $5.07 raw: a $361 spread, 72× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($209) 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 Dan Marino #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Dan Marino #3 (Football Cards 1984 Topps NFL Star Set) sells for about $366 versus $5.07 for a raw near-mint copy — a 72× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dan Marino #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $475, ahead of PSA 10 at $366. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dan Marino #3 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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