Is Don Lever #53 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1976 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Don Lever #53 sells for $52.00 against $2.36 raw: a $49.64 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.69) 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)
- $2.36
- Grade 9.5
- $52.00
- PSA 9
- $47.69
- Gem premium
- 22×
- 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 | $52.00 | +$24.64 | −$0.36 | −$100 |
| PSA 9 | $47.69 | +$20.33 | −$4.67 | −$105 |
| PSA 8 | $19.82 | −$7.54 | −$32.54 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $2.36 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% | $48.77 | −$3.59 |
| 50% | $49.84 | −$2.52 |
| 75% | $50.92 | −$1.44 |
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 Don Lever #53 — FAQ
Is Don Lever #53 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Don Lever #53 sells for $52.00 against $2.36 raw: a $49.64 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.69) 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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