Is Nincada worth grading?
Pokémon · Dragon · 66/97 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Nincada sells for $70.19 against $0.38 raw: a $69.81 spread, 185× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.99) 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)
- $0.38
- PSA 10
- $70.19
- PSA 9
- $29.99
- Gem premium
- 185×
- As of
- Aug 10, 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 | $70.19 | +$44.81 | +$19.81 | −$80.19 |
| PSA 9 | $29.99 | +$4.61 | −$20.39 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $34.99 | +$9.61 | −$15.39 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $0.38 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% | $40.04 | −$10.34 |
| 50% | $50.09 | −$0.29 |
| 75% | $60.14 | +$9.76 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 51%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $200 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $70.19 | −$130 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $70.19 | $200 |
| 9.5 | — | $9.44 |
| 9 | $42.50 | $26.00 |
| 8.5 | — | $6.00 |
| 8 | $22.00 | $8.00 |
| 7 | $18.56 | — |
| 2 | $28.00 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Dragon cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Nincada — FAQ
Is Nincada worth grading?
A PSA 10 Nincada sells for $70.19 against $0.38 raw: a $69.81 spread, 185× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.99) 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 Nincada worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Nincada (Dragon 66/97) sells for about $70.19 versus $0.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 185× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Nincada?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $200, ahead of PSA 10 at $70.19. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Nincada need for a CGC 10?
CGC 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.
What gem rate makes grading Nincada break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Nincada breaks even when it gems about 51% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $29.99).
Is your Pokémon card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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