Hey guys, it’s Matt from Graded Card Investor and today I’m sharing the latest list of the most valuable 1986 Topps football cards recently sold. Before we get into the list, let’s look at the 1986 Topps football card set.
1986 Topps Football Set:
- Contains 396 cards, each 2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″.
- Card fronts have color player photos with green borders and football field-like white lines.
- Player’s name, team, and position at the bottom.
- Card backs include statistical data, career highlights, and a letter (A, B, C, or D) indicating the sheet from which the card was cut, creating two variations for each card.
- Subsets: Record breakers (#s 1-7) and league leaders (#s 225-229).
- Highlighted by Walter Payton (#11) and Dan Marino (#45).
- Notable rookie cards: William Perry (#20), Jerry Rice (#161), Bernie Kosar (#185), Boomer Esiason (#255), Steve Young (#374, previously in a Topps USFL set), Andre Reed (#388), Bruce Smith (#389).
Remember, in the dynamic sports trading card market, it’s important to stay updated. The value of cards is listed in ascending order, from least to most expensive. Card value is heavily influenced by supply, particularly the number of PSA 10 graded cards.
For example, William Perry’s RC, despite his lesser fame, is valued over $4,000 due to only having three PSA 10s. In contrast, a PSA 10 Dan Marino, a more renowned player, is around $600 because of a higher supply. Remember, a card’s value depends on both the player’s fame and its rarity.
Without any further ado, let’s jump into the list!
1986 Topps Dan Marino #45
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: Memory Lane, Inc.
- Sale Date: October 2021
- Sale Price: $660
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Dan Marino Football Card On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Dan Marino Football Card #45
Supply: PSA has graded 3,711 of the 1986 Topps Dan Marino Football Cards with 72 grading gem mint 10, 819 mint 9, 1,858 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1986 Topps Eric Dickerson #78
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: December 2023
- Sale Price: $821
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Eric Dickerson Cards On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Eric Dickerson Football Card #388
Supply: PSA has graded 538 of the 1986 Topps Eric Dickerson football cards with 13 grading gem mint 10, 96 mint 9, 201 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1986 Topps Andre Reed RC #388
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: January 2023
- Sale Price: $870
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Andre Reed RC On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Andre Reed Rookie Card #388
Supply: PSA has graded 3,335 of the 1986 Topps Andre Reed rookie cards with 72 grading gem mint 10, 950 mint 9, 1,426 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1986 Topps Lawrence Taylor #151
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: July 2023
- Sale Price: $930
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Lawrence Taylor Football Card On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Lawrence Taylor Football Card #151
Supply: PSA has graded 777 of the 1986 Topps Lawrence Taylor Football Cards with 28 grading gem mint 10, 144 mint 9, 287 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1986 Topps John Elway #112
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: October 2023
- Sale Price: $1,230
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps John Elway Football Card On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps John Elway Football Card #112
Supply: PSA has graded 2,972 of the 1986 Topps John Elway Football Cards with 36 grading gem mint 10, 496 mint 9, 1,485 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1986 Topps Walter Payton #11
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: Goldin Auctions
- Sale Date: March 2023
- Sale Price: $1,140
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Walter Payton Football Card On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Walter Payton Football Card #11
Supply: PSA has graded 3,560 of the 1986 Topps Walter Payton Football Cards with 72 grading gem mint 10, 765 mint 9, 1,523 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1986 Topps Bruce Smith RC #389
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: December 2023
- Sale Price: $3,311
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Bruce Smith RC On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Bruce Smith Rookie Card #389
Supply: PSA has graded 4,262 of the 1986 Topps Bruce Smith rookie cards with 39 grading gem mint 10, 627 mint 9, 1,741 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1986 Topps Joe Montana #156
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: December 2023
- Sale Price: $3,349
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Joe Montana Football Card On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Joe Montana Football Card #156
Supply: PSA has graded 3,278 of the 1986 Topps Joe Montana Football Cards with 24 grading gem mint 10, 268 mint 9, 1,290 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
1986 Topps William Perry RC #20
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: June 2020
- Sale Price: $4,450
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps William Perry RC On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps William Perry Rookie Card #20
Supply: PSA has graded 1,527 of the 1986 Topps William Perry rookie cards with 3 grading gem mint 10, 79 mint 9, 511 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 10 sold by PWCC Auctions in June 2020 for $4,450
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 9 sold on eBay in November 2023 for $173
Overview: There are 3 PSA 10 “Refrigerator Perry” rookie cards in supply and they sell for a premium because of that.
1986 Topps Reggie White RC #275
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: October 2023
- Sale Price: $5,875
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Reggie White RC On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Reggie White Rookie Card #275
Supply: PSA has graded 6,495 of the 1986 Topps Reggie White rookie cards with 43 grading gem mint 10, 649 mint 9, 2,849 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1986 Topps Steve Young RC #374
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: March 2022
- Sale Price: $120,000
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Steve Young RC On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Steve Young Rookie Card #374
Supply: PSA has graded 12,404 of the 1986 Topps Steve Young rookie cards with 8 grading gem mint 10, 191 mint 9,3,281 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
1986 Topps Jerry Rice RC #161
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Sale Date: February 2023
- Sale Price: $63,000
➡️ Check The Value Of The 1986 Topps Jerry Rice RC On eBay
Market Analysis: 1986 Topps Jerry Rice Rookie Card #161
Supply: PSA has graded 34,916 of the 1986 Topps Jerry Rice rookie cards with 62 grading gem mint 10, 1,079 mint 9, 13,674 NM-MT 8 and the remaining NM 7 or less.
Final Thoughts
When assessing 1986 Topps football cards, the condition is key to determining value, with gem mint cards fetching high prices due to their scarcity in top condition. Collectors should consider PSA 9 grades for affordability, while those on a budget might go for PSA 8s, which are much cheaper.
It’s important to research thoroughly, invest wisely, and be cautious of counterfeits. Keep checking for updates and share your thoughts on top 1986 football cards for collecting. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your card collecting journey!
From a young age, Matt dove deep into sports card valuation, turning to esteemed price guides like Beckett and Tuff Stuff. Eventually he extended to Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. With a vision to sustain and nurture the hobby he loved, Matt established the ‘Graded Card Investor’ YouTube channel and website. He aims to foster a healthy community and offer invaluable insights to those entering the world of sports cards and TCGs. His depth of understanding, from the card market’s 2020 pinnacle to its 1990s valleys, is consistently fortified by meticulous research.
