Is Mike Epstein #126 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 1971 Topps Coins · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Mike Epstein #126 sells for $404 against $3.02 raw: a $401 spread, 134× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.74) 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)
- $3.02
- PSA 10
- $404
- PSA 9
- $66.74
- Gem premium
- 134×
- 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 | $404 | +$376 | +$351 | +$251 |
| PSA 9 | $66.74 | +$38.72 | +$13.72 | −$86.28 |
| PSA 8 | $27.56 | −$0.46 | −$25.46 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $3.02 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 | +$97.94 |
| 50% | $235 | +$182 |
| 75% | $319 | +$266 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $525 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $404 | −$121 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $242 | −$283 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $242 | −$283 | 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 Mike Epstein #126 — FAQ
Is Mike Epstein #126 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Mike Epstein #126 sells for $404 against $3.02 raw: a $401 spread, 134× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($66.74) 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 Mike Epstein #126 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Mike Epstein #126 (Baseball Cards 1971 Topps Coins) sells for about $404 versus $3.02 for a raw near-mint copy — a 134× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Mike Epstein #126?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $525, ahead of PSA 10 at $404. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Mike Epstein #126 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.
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