Is Ernie Hicke #71 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1975 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Ernie Hicke #71 sells for $41.00 against $1.50 raw: a $39.50 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.68) 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)
- $1.50
- Grade 9.5
- $41.00
- PSA 9
- $37.68
- Gem premium
- 27×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $41.00 | +$14.50 | −$10.50 | −$111 |
| PSA 9 | $37.68 | +$11.18 | −$13.82 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $1.50 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% | $38.51 | −$12.99 |
| 50% | $39.34 | −$12.16 |
| 75% | $40.17 | −$11.33 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Ernie Hicke #71 — FAQ
Is Ernie Hicke #71 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Ernie Hicke #71 sells for $41.00 against $1.50 raw: a $39.50 spread, 27× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.68) 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.
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