Cards › 1981 Topps Joe Montana #216
Is the 1981 Topps Joe Montana #216 worth grading?
Live market numbers as of 2026-10-21 — raw vs. graded value, PSA 10 gem rate, and the breakeven math.
Raw value
$91.39
PSA 9 value
$3,798.89
PSA 10 value
$51,240.00
PSA 10 gem rate
0.3%
Based on the numbers below, this card is potentially worth grading — a PSA 10 nets an estimated $43,370, but the 0.3% gem rate means the 10 is far from guaranteed. Weigh the PSA 9 outcome below.
The breakeven math
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Raw purchase | $91.39 |
| Sales tax (8%) | $7.31 |
| Grading fee (priority tier) | $80.00 |
| Shipping | $5.00 |
| Total cost basis | $183.70 |
| Net at PSA 10 (85% payout) | +$43,370.30 (+23609%) |
| Net at PSA 9 (the downside case) | +$3,045.36 |
Assumptions: $80 grading, $5 shipping, 8% tax on the raw purchase, and keeping 85% of the sale after marketplace fees. Your numbers will differ — run them below.
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Start free trialCard pricing data provided by SportsCardsPro, a service of PriceCharting. Gem rates reflect recent PSA population data (38,340 graded submissions). Not investment advice — grading outcomes are probabilistic and markets move. © Summit Sports Cards · About · Pricing