![Carmelo Anthony [Gold] #223 (Basketball Cards 2003 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/K-AAAeSwBZ1qMB8G/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Carmelo Anthony [Gold] #223 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Carmelo Anthony [Gold] #223 sells for $2,300 against $7.44 raw: a $2,293 spread, 309× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,029) 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)
- $7.44
- Grade 9.5
- $2,300
- PSA 9
- $1,029
- Gem premium
- 309×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $2,300 | +$2,268 | +$2,243 | +$2,143 |
| PSA 9 | $1,029 | +$997 | +$972 | +$872 |
| PSA 8 | $935 | +$903 | +$878 | +$778 |
Net = sale price − $7.44 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% | $1,347 | +$1,289 |
| 50% | $1,665 | +$1,607 |
| 75% | $1,982 | +$1,925 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $2,300 |
| 9 | $1,029 |
| 8 | $935 |
| 7 | $400 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Carmelo Anthony [Gold] #223 — FAQ
Is Carmelo Anthony [Gold] #223 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Carmelo Anthony [Gold] #223 sells for $2,300 against $7.44 raw: a $2,293 spread, 309× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,029) 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.
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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