Is Articuno ex worth grading?
Pokémon · Nintendo Black Star Promos · 032 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Articuno ex sells for $20,734 against $184 raw: a $20,550 spread, 113× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,874) 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)
- $184
- PSA 10
- $20,734
- PSA 9
- $2,874
- Gem premium
- 113×
- As of
- Oct 3, 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 | $20,734 | +$20,525 | +$20,500 | +$20,400 |
| PSA 9 | $2,874 | +$2,665 | +$2,640 | +$2,540 |
| PSA 8 | $331 | +$122 | +$97.09 | −$2.91 |
Net = sale price − $184 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% | $7,339 | +$7,105 |
| 50% | $11,804 | +$11,570 |
| 75% | $16,269 | +$16,035 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $20,734 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $625 | −$20,108 | 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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Grading Articuno ex — FAQ
Is Articuno ex worth grading?
A PSA 10 Articuno ex sells for $20,734 against $184 raw: a $20,550 spread, 113× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,874) 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 Articuno ex worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Articuno ex (Nintendo Black Star Promos 032) sells for about $20,734 versus $184 for a raw near-mint copy — a 113× premium as of Oct 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Articuno ex?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $20,734, ahead of CGC 10 at $625. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Articuno ex 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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