Is Defender worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 109/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Defender brings $29.80 versus $0.51 raw — a $29.29 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.11) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.51
- PSA 10
- $29.80
- PSA 9
- $10.11
- Gem premium
- 58×
- As of
- Sep 27, 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 | $29.80 | +$4.29 | −$20.71 | −$121 |
| PSA 9 | $10.11 | −$15.40 | −$40.40 | −$140 |
| PSA 8 | $10.18 | −$15.33 | −$40.33 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $0.51 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% | $15.03 | −$35.48 |
| 50% | $19.95 | −$30.56 |
| 75% | $24.88 | −$25.63 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $29.80 | best | 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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Other Base Set 2 cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Defender — FAQ
Is Defender worth grading?
A PSA 10 Defender brings $29.80 versus $0.51 raw — a $29.29 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($10.11) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Defender worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Defender (Base Set 2 109/130) sells for about $29.80 versus $0.51 for a raw near-mint copy — a 58× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
What centering does Defender need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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.
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