Is John Gould #381 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1974 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 John Gould #381 sells for $268 against $2.19 raw: a $266 spread, 122× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($46.27) 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)
- $2.19
- PSA 10
- $268
- PSA 9
- $46.27
- Gem premium
- 122×
- 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 | $268 | +$241 | +$216 | +$116 |
| PSA 9 | $46.27 | +$19.08 | −$5.92 | −$106 |
| PSA 8 | $22.15 | −$5.04 | −$30.04 | −$130 |
Net = sale price − $2.19 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% | $102 | +$49.45 |
| 50% | $157 | +$105 |
| 75% | $212 | +$160 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $348 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $268 | −$80.27 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $161 | −$187 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $161 | −$187 | 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 John Gould #381 — FAQ
Is John Gould #381 worth grading?
A PSA 10 John Gould #381 sells for $268 against $2.19 raw: a $266 spread, 122× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($46.27) 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 John Gould #381 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 John Gould #381 (Hockey Cards 1974 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $268 versus $2.19 for a raw near-mint copy — a 122× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for John Gould #381?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $348, ahead of PSA 10 at $268. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does John Gould #381 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 John Gould #381 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting John Gould #381 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $46.27).
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