Is Johnny Unitas #46 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2001 Topps Archives Reserve · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 38× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #46 sells for $150 against $3.99 raw: a $146 spread, 38× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($19.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.99
- PSA 10
- $150
- PSA 9
- $19.50
- Gem premium
- 38×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $150 | +$121 | +$96.01 | −$3.99 |
| PSA 9 | $19.50 | −$9.49 | −$34.49 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $11.76 | −$17.23 | −$42.23 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $3.99 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% | $52.13 | −$1.87 |
| 50% | $84.75 | +$30.76 |
| 75% | $117 | +$63.39 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 26%. 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 | $195 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $150 | −$45.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $90.00 | −$105 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $90.00 | −$105 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $150 | $90.00 | $195 | $90.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $39.26 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $19.50 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $11.76 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2001 Topps Archives Reserve cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Johnny Unitas #46 — FAQ
Is Johnny Unitas #46 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #46 sells for $150 against $3.99 raw: a $146 spread, 38× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($19.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #46 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Johnny Unitas #46 (Football Cards 2001 Topps Archives Reserve) sells for about $150 versus $3.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 38× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Johnny Unitas #46?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $195, ahead of PSA 10 at $150. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Johnny Unitas #46 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 Johnny Unitas #46 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Johnny Unitas #46 breaks even when it gems about 26% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $19.50).
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
Check my card free