Is Jim Roberts #281 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1977 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Jim Roberts #281 sells for $41.00 against $1.36 raw: a $39.64 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.00) 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)
- $1.36
- Grade 9.5
- $41.00
- PSA 9
- $37.00
- Gem premium
- 30×
- 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 | +$14.64 | −$10.36 | −$110 |
| PSA 9 | $37.00 | +$10.64 | −$14.36 | −$114 |
| PSA 8 | $30.10 | +$3.74 | −$21.26 | −$121 |
Net = sale price − $1.36 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% | $38.00 | −$13.36 |
| 50% | $39.00 | −$12.36 |
| 75% | $40.00 | −$11.36 |
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 Jim Roberts #281 — FAQ
Is Jim Roberts #281 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Jim Roberts #281 sells for $41.00 against $1.36 raw: a $39.64 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.00) 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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