Is Copycat worth grading?
Pokémon · HeartGold & SoulSilver · 90/123 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Copycat sells for $100 against $0.63 raw: a $99.50 spread, 159× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.82) 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)
- $0.63
- PSA 10
- $100
- PSA 9
- $39.82
- Gem premium
- 159×
- 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 | $100 | +$74.50 | +$49.50 | −$50.50 |
| PSA 9 | $39.82 | +$14.19 | −$10.81 | −$111 |
| PSA 8 | $25.00 | −$0.63 | −$25.63 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $0.63 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% | $54.90 | +$4.27 |
| 50% | $69.97 | +$19.34 |
| 75% | $85.05 | +$34.42 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 18%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $100 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $75.17 | −$24.96 | 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 | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $68.36 | $75.17 | — |
| 9.5 | — | $60.00 | — |
| 9 | $74.91 | $14.99 | $46.76 |
| 8.5 | — | $8.04 | — |
| 8 | $25.00 | — | — |
Run your own numbers
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Other HeartGold & SoulSilver cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Copycat — FAQ
Is Copycat worth grading?
A PSA 10 Copycat sells for $100 against $0.63 raw: a $99.50 spread, 159× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.82) 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 Copycat worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Copycat (HeartGold & SoulSilver 90/123) sells for about $100 versus $0.63 for a raw near-mint copy — a 159× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Copycat?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $100, ahead of CGC 10 at $75.17. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Copycat 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.
What gem rate makes grading Copycat break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Copycat breaks even when it gems about 18% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $39.82).
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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