Is Julius Peppers #231 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2002 Upper Deck · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Julius Peppers #231 sells for $153 against $5.00 raw: a $148 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.00) 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)
- $5.00
- PSA 10
- $153
- PSA 9
- $40.00
- Gem premium
- 31×
- 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 | $153 | +$123 | +$97.50 | −$2.50 |
| PSA 9 | $40.00 | +$10.00 | −$15.00 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $11.50 | −$18.50 | −$43.50 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $5.00 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% | $68.13 | +$13.13 |
| 50% | $96.25 | +$41.25 |
| 75% | $124 | +$69.38 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 13%. 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 | $198 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $153 | −$45.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $92.00 | −$106 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $92.00 | −$106 | 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 Julius Peppers #231 — FAQ
Is Julius Peppers #231 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Julius Peppers #231 sells for $153 against $5.00 raw: a $148 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.00) 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 Julius Peppers #231 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Julius Peppers #231 (Football Cards 2002 Upper Deck) sells for about $153 versus $5.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 31× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Julius Peppers #231?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $198, ahead of PSA 10 at $153. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Julius Peppers #231 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 Julius Peppers #231 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Julius Peppers #231 breaks even when it gems about 13% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $40.00).
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