Is Larry Bird #AR-29 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Larry Bird #AR-29 sells for $296 against $60.00 raw: a $236 spread, 4.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($103) 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)
- $60.00
- PSA 10
- $296
- PSA 9
- $103
- Gem premium
- 4.9×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $296 | +$211 | +$186 | +$85.60 |
| PSA 9 | $103 | +$18.26 | −$6.74 | −$107 |
| PSA 8 | $58.87 | −$26.13 | −$51.13 | −$151 |
Net = sale price − $60.00 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% | $151 | +$41.35 |
| 50% | $199 | +$89.43 |
| 75% | $248 | +$138 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $384 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $296 | −$88.40 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $177 | −$207 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $177 | −$207 | 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 Larry Bird #AR-29 — FAQ
Is Larry Bird #AR-29 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird #AR-29 sells for $296 against $60.00 raw: a $236 spread, 4.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($103) 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 Larry Bird #AR-29 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Larry Bird #AR-29 (Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Three Architects) sells for about $296 versus $60.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.9× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Larry Bird #AR-29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $384, ahead of PSA 10 at $296. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Larry Bird #AR-29 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 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 Larry Bird #AR-29 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Larry Bird #AR-29 breaks even when it gems about 4% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $103).
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