Is Billy Smith #82 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1974 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Billy Smith #82 sells for $464 against $4.00 raw: a $460 spread, 116× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.26) 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)
- $4.00
- PSA 10
- $464
- PSA 9
- $48.26
- Gem premium
- 116×
- 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 | $464 | +$435 | +$410 | +$310 |
| PSA 9 | $48.26 | +$19.26 | −$5.74 | −$106 |
| PSA 8 | $34.07 | +$5.07 | −$19.93 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $4.00 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% | $152 | +$98.15 |
| 50% | $256 | +$202 |
| 75% | $360 | +$306 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $603 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $464 | −$139 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $278 | −$325 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $278 | −$325 | 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 Billy Smith #82 — FAQ
Is Billy Smith #82 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Billy Smith #82 sells for $464 against $4.00 raw: a $460 spread, 116× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.26) 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 Billy Smith #82 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Billy Smith #82 (Hockey Cards 1974 Topps) sells for about $464 versus $4.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 116× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Billy Smith #82?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $603, ahead of PSA 10 at $464. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Billy Smith #82 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 Billy Smith #82 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Billy Smith #82 breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $48.26).
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