Is Dave Maloney #159 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1979 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Dave Maloney #159 sells for $55.00 against $1.80 raw: a $53.20 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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)
- $1.80
- Grade 9.5
- $55.00
- PSA 9
- $49.99
- Gem premium
- 31×
- 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 | $55.00 | +$28.20 | +$3.20 | −$96.80 |
| PSA 9 | $49.99 | +$23.19 | −$1.81 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $8.50 | −$18.30 | −$43.30 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $1.80 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% | $51.24 | −$0.56 |
| 50% | $52.50 | +$0.70 |
| 75% | $53.75 | +$1.95 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 36%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Grading Dave Maloney #159 — FAQ
Is Dave Maloney #159 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Dave Maloney #159 sells for $55.00 against $1.80 raw: a $53.20 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Dave Maloney #159 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Dave Maloney #159 breaks even when it gems about 36% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.99).
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