Is Spikes of Death #17 worth grading?
Entertainment · 1989 Topps Batman Reissue · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Spikes of Death #17 sells for $660 against $36.53 raw: a $623 spread, 18× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($600) 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)
- $36.53
- Grade 9.5
- $660
- PSA 9
- $600
- Gem premium
- 18×
- As of
- Oct 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 | $660 | +$598 | +$573 | +$473 |
| PSA 9 | $600 | +$538 | +$513 | +$413 |
| PSA 8 | $256 | +$194 | +$169 | +$69.47 |
Net = sale price − $36.53 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% | $615 | +$528 |
| 50% | $630 | +$543 |
| 75% | $645 | +$558 |
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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Grading Spikes of Death #17 — FAQ
Is Spikes of Death #17 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Spikes of Death #17 sells for $660 against $36.53 raw: a $623 spread, 18× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($600) 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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