Joe Montana
Football • Topps Football
Sport & Year
Football • 1981
Brand & Set
Topps - Topps Football
Card Number
216
Card Type
Rookie Card
Rarity
Base
Parallel Variant & Language
Base • English
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Grade
Very Good-Excellent (VG-EX 4)
Estimated Market Value
Raw: $100 - $200; Graded (PSA 4): $150 - $250
Recent Sales
Recent raw copies in similar condition have sold on eBay in the $120 to $180 range. Lower grade PSA 4 and 5 examples regularly trade between $150 and $300 depending on eye appeal.
Condition Details
Noticeable corner softening, slight edge wear along the top and right borders, and off-center border alignment typical of 1981 Topps production. Minor surface wear visible under light.
Grading Recommendation
Grading is recommended to authenticate the card and protect its value, as it is a legendary rookie card. However, given the visible corner wear and centering, it will likely grade in the 4 to 6 range, so weigh the grading fees against the potential value bump.
Card Description
Features San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana wearing his white jersey with number 16 visible on the sleeve, sitting on the bench talking on a telephone and holding a green cup. The classic 1981 Topps design features a red '49ers' team banner in the upper left and an orange 'Quarterback Joe Montana' banner on the upper right.
Notable Features
Iconic Rookie Card of Hall of Famer Joe Montana. Features the classic Topps logo in the bottom left corner.
Authentication Notes
Standard 1981 Topps card stock and dimensions appear consistent with authentic vintage issues. No obvious signs of trimming or alteration based on visual inspection, but professional grading is advised to guarantee authenticity.
Scanned: 2026-08-24T17:59:13.856286