Is Bob Nystrom #217 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1979 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Bob Nystrom #217 sells for $185 against $1.82 raw: a $183 spread, 101× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.85) 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)
- $1.82
- PSA 10
- $185
- PSA 9
- $33.85
- Gem premium
- 101×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $185 | +$158 | +$133 | +$32.85 |
| PSA 9 | $33.85 | +$7.03 | −$17.97 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $29.99 | +$3.17 | −$21.83 | −$122 |
Net = sale price − $1.82 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% | $71.56 | +$19.74 |
| 50% | $109 | +$57.44 |
| 75% | $147 | +$95.15 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 12%. 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 | $240 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $185 | −$55.33 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $111 | −$129 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $111 | −$129 | 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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Full set checklist →Grading Bob Nystrom #217 — FAQ
Is Bob Nystrom #217 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Bob Nystrom #217 sells for $185 against $1.82 raw: a $183 spread, 101× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.85) 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 Bob Nystrom #217 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Bob Nystrom #217 (Hockey Cards 1979 Topps) sells for about $185 versus $1.82 for a raw near-mint copy — a 101× premium as of Sep 2, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Bob Nystrom #217?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $240, ahead of PSA 10 at $185. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Bob Nystrom #217 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 Bob Nystrom #217 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Bob Nystrom #217 breaks even when it gems about 12% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $33.85).
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