Is Steve Payne #64 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1979 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Steve Payne #64 sells for $179 against $1.74 raw: a $177 spread, 103× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.94) 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)
- $1.74
- PSA 10
- $179
- PSA 9
- $32.94
- Gem premium
- 103×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $179 | +$152 | +$127 | +$27.01 |
| PSA 9 | $32.94 | +$6.20 | −$18.80 | −$119 |
| PSA 8 | $23.77 | −$2.97 | −$27.97 | −$128 |
Net = sale price − $1.74 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% | $69.39 | +$17.65 |
| 50% | $106 | +$54.11 |
| 75% | $142 | +$90.56 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 13%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $232 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $179 | −$53.25 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $107 | −$125 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $107 | −$125 | 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 Steve Payne #64 — FAQ
Is Steve Payne #64 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Steve Payne #64 sells for $179 against $1.74 raw: a $177 spread, 103× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.94) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Steve Payne #64 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Steve Payne #64 (Hockey Cards 1979 Topps) sells for about $179 versus $1.74 for a raw near-mint copy — a 103× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Steve Payne #64?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $232, ahead of PSA 10 at $179. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Steve Payne #64 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.
What gem rate makes grading Steve Payne #64 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Steve Payne #64 breaks even when it gems about 13% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $32.94).
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