Is Pokémon Communication worth grading?
Pokémon · HeartGold & SoulSilver · 98/123 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A CGC 9.5 Pokémon Communication sells for $299 against $2.44 raw: a $297 spread, 123× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.89) 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)
- $2.44
- CGC 9.5
- $299
- PSA 9
- $37.89
- Gem premium
- 123×
- 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 — CGC 9.5 | $299 | +$272 | +$247 | +$147 |
| PSA 9 | $37.89 | +$10.45 | −$14.55 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $13.50 | −$13.94 | −$38.94 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $2.44 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% | $103 | +$50.73 |
| 50% | $168 | +$116 |
| 75% | $234 | +$181 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 6%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC |
|---|---|---|
| 9.5 | — | $299 |
| 9 | $37.89 | $250 |
| 8.5 | — | $49.99 |
| 8 | $13.50 | — |
| 7 | $15.00 | — |
| 6 | $33.00 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other HeartGold & SoulSilver cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pokémon Communication — FAQ
Is Pokémon Communication worth grading?
A CGC 9.5 Pokémon Communication sells for $299 against $2.44 raw: a $297 spread, 123× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.89) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Pokémon Communication break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pokémon Communication breaks even when it gems about 6% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $37.89).
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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