Is Hideo Nomo [Mirror Emerald Signature] #86 worth grading?
Baseball · Baseball Cards 2003 Leaf Certified Materials · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Hideo Nomo [Mirror Emerald Signature] #86 sells for $1,595 against $4.49 raw: a $1,591 spread, 355× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,450) 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)
- $4.49
- Grade 9.5
- $1,595
- PSA 9
- $1,450
- Gem premium
- 355×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $1,595 | +$1,566 | +$1,541 | +$1,441 |
| PSA 9 | $1,450 | +$1,421 | +$1,396 | +$1,296 |
Net = sale price − $4.49 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% | $1,486 | +$1,432 |
| 50% | $1,523 | +$1,468 |
| 75% | $1,559 | +$1,504 |
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 Hideo Nomo [Mirror Emerald Signature] #86 — FAQ
Is Hideo Nomo [Mirror Emerald Signature] #86 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Hideo Nomo [Mirror Emerald Signature] #86 sells for $1,595 against $4.49 raw: a $1,591 spread, 355× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,450) 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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