Is Gary Smith #126 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1973 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Gary Smith #126 sells for $236 against $1.91 raw: a $235 spread, 124× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.45) 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)
- $1.91
- PSA 10
- $236
- PSA 9
- $41.45
- Gem premium
- 124×
- 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 | $236 | +$210 | +$185 | +$84.55 |
| PSA 9 | $41.45 | +$14.54 | −$10.46 | −$110 |
| PSA 8 | $7.02 | −$19.89 | −$44.89 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $1.91 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% | $90.20 | +$38.29 |
| 50% | $139 | +$87.05 |
| 75% | $188 | +$136 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 5%. 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 | $307 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $236 | −$70.54 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $142 | −$165 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $142 | −$165 | 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 Gary Smith #126 — FAQ
Is Gary Smith #126 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Gary Smith #126 sells for $236 against $1.91 raw: a $235 spread, 124× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.45) 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 Gary Smith #126 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Gary Smith #126 (Hockey Cards 1973 Topps) sells for about $236 versus $1.91 for a raw near-mint copy — a 124× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Gary Smith #126?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $307, ahead of PSA 10 at $236. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Gary Smith #126 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 Gary Smith #126 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Gary Smith #126 breaks even when it gems about 5% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $41.45).
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