Is Don Luce #38 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1973 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Don Luce #38 sells for $237 against $2.29 raw: a $235 spread, 103× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.47) 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)
- $2.29
- PSA 10
- $237
- PSA 9
- $39.47
- Gem premium
- 103×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $237 | +$210 | +$185 | +$84.54 |
| PSA 9 | $39.47 | +$12.18 | −$12.82 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $10.43 | −$16.86 | −$41.86 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $2.29 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% | $88.81 | +$36.52 |
| 50% | $138 | +$85.86 |
| 75% | $187 | +$135 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 6%. 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 | $308 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $237 | −$71.17 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $142 | −$166 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $142 | −$166 | 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 Don Luce #38 — FAQ
Is Don Luce #38 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Don Luce #38 sells for $237 against $2.29 raw: a $235 spread, 103× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.47) 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 Don Luce #38 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Don Luce #38 (Hockey Cards 1973 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $237 versus $2.29 for a raw near-mint copy — a 103× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Don Luce #38?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $308, ahead of PSA 10 at $237. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Don Luce #38 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 Don Luce #38 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Don Luce #38 breaks even when it gems about 6% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $39.47).
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