Is Lowell MacDonald #204 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1975 Topps · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 27× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Lowell MacDonald #204 sells for $45.27 against $1.69 raw: a $43.58 spread, 27× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($9.30) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.69
- PSA 10
- $45.27
- PSA 9
- $9.30
- 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 — PSA 10 | $45.27 | +$18.58 | −$6.42 | −$106 |
| PSA 9 | $9.30 | −$17.39 | −$42.39 | −$142 |
| PSA 8 | $0.99 | −$25.70 | −$50.70 | −$151 |
Net = sale price − $1.69 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% | $18.29 | −$33.40 |
| 50% | $27.29 | −$24.40 |
| 75% | $36.28 | −$15.41 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $59.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $45.27 | −$13.73 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $27.00 | −$32.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $27.00 | −$32.00 | 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 Lowell MacDonald #204 — FAQ
Is Lowell MacDonald #204 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lowell MacDonald #204 sells for $45.27 against $1.69 raw: a $43.58 spread, 27× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($9.30) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Lowell MacDonald #204 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lowell MacDonald #204 (Hockey Cards 1975 Topps) sells for about $45.27 versus $1.69 for a raw near-mint copy — a 27× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lowell MacDonald #204?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $59.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $45.27. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lowell MacDonald #204 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.
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