Is Tom Brady #256 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2002 Fleer · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tom Brady #256 sells for $250 against $5.29 raw: a $245 spread, 47× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52.58) 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)
- $5.29
- PSA 10
- $250
- PSA 9
- $52.58
- Gem premium
- 47×
- 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 | $250 | +$220 | +$195 | +$94.70 |
| PSA 9 | $52.58 | +$22.29 | −$2.71 | −$103 |
| PSA 8 | $29.00 | −$1.29 | −$26.29 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $5.29 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% | $102 | +$46.64 |
| 50% | $151 | +$96.00 |
| 75% | $201 | +$145 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $325 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $250 | −$75.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $150 | −$175 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $39.00 | −$286 | 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 Tom Brady #256 — FAQ
Is Tom Brady #256 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tom Brady #256 sells for $250 against $5.29 raw: a $245 spread, 47× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52.58) 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 Tom Brady #256 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tom Brady #256 (Football Cards 2002 Fleer) sells for about $250 versus $5.29 for a raw near-mint copy — a 47× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tom Brady #256?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $325, ahead of PSA 10 at $250. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tom Brady #256 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 Tom Brady #256 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Tom Brady #256 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $52.58).
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