Is Marcel Dionne #18 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1972 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Marcel Dionne #18 sells for $132 against $5.41 raw: a $127 spread, 24× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.50) 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)
- $5.41
- PSA 10
- $132
- PSA 9
- $31.50
- Gem premium
- 24×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $132 | +$102 | +$76.70 | −$23.30 |
| PSA 9 | $31.50 | +$1.09 | −$23.91 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $22.72 | −$7.69 | −$32.69 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $5.41 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% | $56.65 | +$1.24 |
| 50% | $81.81 | +$26.40 |
| 75% | $107 | +$51.55 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 24%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $172 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $132 | −$39.89 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $79.00 | −$93.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $79.00 | −$93.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $132 | $79.00 | $172 | $79.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $65.97 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $31.50 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $22.72 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $18.16 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1972 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![NHL Scoring Leaders [Esposito, Orr, Ratelle] #63 1972 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2zEAAeSwXOVqQy-W/s-l500.jpg)
![Boston Bruins [Stanley Cup Champs] #1 1972 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WJ4AAeSwuOVqRaOg/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Marcel Dionne #18 — FAQ
Is Marcel Dionne #18 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Marcel Dionne #18 sells for $132 against $5.41 raw: a $127 spread, 24× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.50) 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 Marcel Dionne #18 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Marcel Dionne #18 (Hockey Cards 1972 Topps) sells for about $132 versus $5.41 for a raw near-mint copy — a 24× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Marcel Dionne #18?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $172, ahead of PSA 10 at $132. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Marcel Dionne #18 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.
What gem rate makes grading Marcel Dionne #18 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Marcel Dionne #18 breaks even when it gems about 24% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $31.50).
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.
Check my card free