Is Rick Smith #174 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1971 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Rick Smith #174 sells for $291 against $3.30 raw: a $288 spread, 88× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($213) 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)
- $3.30
- PSA 10
- $291
- PSA 9
- $213
- Gem premium
- 88×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $291 | +$263 | +$238 | +$138 |
| PSA 9 | $213 | +$184 | +$159 | +$59.20 |
| PSA 8 | $35.82 | +$7.52 | −$17.48 | −$117 |
Net = sale price − $3.30 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% | $232 | +$179 |
| 50% | $252 | +$198 |
| 75% | $271 | +$218 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $378 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $291 | −$87.08 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $175 | −$203 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $175 | −$203 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Grading Rick Smith #174 — FAQ
Is Rick Smith #174 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Rick Smith #174 sells for $291 against $3.30 raw: a $288 spread, 88× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($213) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Rick Smith #174 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Rick Smith #174 (Hockey Cards 1971 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $291 versus $3.30 for a raw near-mint copy — a 88× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Rick Smith #174?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $378, ahead of PSA 10 at $291. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Rick Smith #174 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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