Is Rafael Septien #131 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1986 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Rafael Septien #131 sells for $200 against $1.40 raw: a $199 spread, 143× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.16) 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)
- $1.40
- PSA 10
- $200
- PSA 9
- $31.16
- Gem premium
- 143×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $200 | +$174 | +$149 | +$48.59 |
| PSA 9 | $31.16 | +$4.76 | −$20.24 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $5.93 | −$20.47 | −$45.47 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $1.40 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% | $73.37 | +$21.97 |
| 50% | $116 | +$64.17 |
| 75% | $158 | +$106 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 12%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $260 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $200 | −$60.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $120 | −$140 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $120 | −$140 | 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 Rafael Septien #131 — FAQ
Is Rafael Septien #131 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Rafael Septien #131 sells for $200 against $1.40 raw: a $199 spread, 143× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.16) 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 Rafael Septien #131 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Rafael Septien #131 (Football Cards 1986 Topps) sells for about $200 versus $1.40 for a raw near-mint copy — a 143× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Rafael Septien #131?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $260, ahead of PSA 10 at $200. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Rafael Septien #131 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.
What gem rate makes grading Rafael Septien #131 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Rafael Septien #131 breaks even when it gems about 12% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $31.16).
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