Is Gary Smith #103 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1979 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Gary Smith #103 sell for $25.00, only $24.00 above the $1.00 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($22.75) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.00
- Grade 9.5
- $25.00
- PSA 9
- $22.75
- Gem premium
- 25×
- 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 | $25.00 | −$1.00 | −$26.00 | −$126 |
| PSA 9 | $22.75 | −$3.25 | −$28.25 | −$128 |
| PSA 8 | $5.12 | −$20.88 | −$45.88 | −$146 |
Net = sale price − $1.00 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% | $23.31 | −$27.69 |
| 50% | $23.88 | −$27.13 |
| 75% | $24.44 | −$26.56 |
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 Gary Smith #103 — FAQ
Is Gary Smith #103 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Gary Smith #103 sell for $25.00, only $24.00 above the $1.00 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($22.75) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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