Is Dave Forbes #143 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1977 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Dave Forbes #143 sells for $158 against $2.25 raw: a $156 spread, 70× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($143) 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)
- $2.25
- Grade 9.5
- $158
- PSA 9
- $143
- Gem premium
- 70×
- 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 | $158 | +$131 | +$106 | +$5.75 |
| PSA 9 | $143 | +$116 | +$91.18 | −$8.82 |
| PSA 8 | $4.45 | −$22.80 | −$47.80 | −$148 |
Net = sale price − $2.25 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% | $147 | +$94.82 |
| 50% | $151 | +$98.47 |
| 75% | $154 | +$102 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1977 O-Pee-Chee cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Dave Forbes #143 — FAQ
Is Dave Forbes #143 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Dave Forbes #143 sells for $158 against $2.25 raw: a $156 spread, 70× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($143) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your hockey card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
