Is Ray Allen #97PM-6 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2012 Fleer Retro 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Ray Allen #97PM-6 sells for $165 against $99.99 raw: a $65.01 spread, 1.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($150) 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)
- $99.99
- Grade 9.5
- $165
- PSA 9
- $150
- Gem premium
- 1.7×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $165 | +$40.01 | +$15.01 | −$84.99 |
| PSA 9 | $150 | +$25.01 | +$0.01 | −$99.99 |
Net = sale price − $99.99 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% | $154 | +$3.76 |
| 50% | $158 | +$7.51 |
| 75% | $161 | +$11.26 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Other 2012 Fleer Retro 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems cards worth checking
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Grading Ray Allen #97PM-6 — FAQ
Is Ray Allen #97PM-6 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Ray Allen #97PM-6 sells for $165 against $99.99 raw: a $65.01 spread, 1.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($150) 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.
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