Is Aaron Judge / Jose Altuve [Independence Day] #US79 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2018 Topps Update · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Aaron Judge / Jose Altuve [Independence Day] #US79 sells for $149 against $74.92 raw: a $74.08 spread, 2.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($135) 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)
- $74.92
- Grade 9.5
- $149
- PSA 9
- $135
- Gem premium
- 2.0×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $149 | +$49.08 | +$24.08 | −$75.92 |
| PSA 9 | $135 | +$35.08 | +$10.08 | −$89.92 |
| PSA 8 | $26.00 | −$73.92 | −$98.92 | −$199 |
Net = sale price − $74.92 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% | $139 | +$13.58 |
| 50% | $142 | +$17.08 |
| 75% | $146 | +$20.58 |
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 Aaron Judge / Jose Altuve [Independence Day] #US79 — FAQ
Is Aaron Judge / Jose Altuve [Independence Day] #US79 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Aaron Judge / Jose Altuve [Independence Day] #US79 sells for $149 against $74.92 raw: a $74.08 spread, 2.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($135) 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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