Is John Elway #179 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1984 Topps Stickers · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 John Elway #179 sells for $865 against $10.49 raw: a $854 spread, 82× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($137) 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)
- $10.49
- PSA 10
- $865
- PSA 9
- $137
- Gem premium
- 82×
- 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 | $865 | +$829 | +$804 | +$704 |
| PSA 9 | $137 | +$101 | +$76.48 | −$23.52 |
| PSA 8 | $45.00 | +$9.51 | −$15.49 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $10.49 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% | $319 | +$258 |
| 50% | $501 | +$440 |
| 75% | $683 | +$622 |
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 | $1,124 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $865 | −$259 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $519 | −$605 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $519 | −$605 | 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 John Elway #179 — FAQ
Is John Elway #179 worth grading?
A PSA 10 John Elway #179 sells for $865 against $10.49 raw: a $854 spread, 82× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($137) 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 John Elway #179 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 John Elway #179 (Football Cards 1984 Topps Stickers) sells for about $865 versus $10.49 for a raw near-mint copy — a 82× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for John Elway #179?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,124, ahead of PSA 10 at $865. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does John Elway #179 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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