Is Jim Kelly #85 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2001 Topps Archives Reserve · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
PSA 10 copies of Jim Kelly #85 sell for $23.38, only $19.48 above the $3.90 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.90
- PSA 10
- $23.38
- PSA 9
- $15.50
- Gem premium
- 6.0×
- 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 | $23.38 | −$5.52 | −$30.52 | −$131 |
| PSA 9 | $15.50 | −$13.40 | −$38.40 | −$138 |
| PSA 8 | $11.51 | −$17.39 | −$42.39 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $3.90 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% | $17.47 | −$36.43 |
| 50% | $19.44 | −$34.46 |
| 75% | $21.41 | −$32.49 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $30.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $23.38 | −$6.62 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $14.00 | −$16.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $14.00 | −$16.00 | 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 Jim Kelly #85 — FAQ
Is Jim Kelly #85 worth grading?
PSA 10 copies of Jim Kelly #85 sell for $23.38, only $19.48 above the $3.90 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($15.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
How much is a PSA 10 Jim Kelly #85 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Jim Kelly #85 (Football Cards 2001 Topps Archives Reserve) sells for about $23.38 versus $3.90 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.0× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Jim Kelly #85?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $30.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $23.38. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Jim Kelly #85 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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