Is Jim Nielson #89 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1965 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Jim Nielson #89 sells for $192 against $12.75 raw: a $179 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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)
- $12.75
- Grade 9.5
- $192
- PSA 9
- $175
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 | $192 | +$154 | +$129 | +$29.25 |
| PSA 9 | $175 | +$137 | +$112 | +$12.24 |
| PSA 8 | $65.81 | +$28.06 | +$3.06 | −$96.94 |
Net = sale price − $12.75 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% | $179 | +$116 |
| 50% | $183 | +$121 |
| 75% | $188 | +$125 |
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 | $192 |
| 9 | $175 |
| 8 | $65.81 |
| 7 | $28.38 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Jim Nielson #89 — FAQ
Is Jim Nielson #89 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Jim Nielson #89 sells for $192 against $12.75 raw: a $179 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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 hockey 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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