Is Curt Giles #96 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1985 Topps · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Curt Giles #96 sell for $19.00, only $17.79 above the $1.21 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.45) 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)
- $1.21
- Grade 9.5
- $19.00
- PSA 9
- $17.45
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $19.00 | −$7.21 | −$32.21 | −$132 |
| PSA 9 | $17.45 | −$8.76 | −$33.76 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $5.00 | −$21.21 | −$46.21 | −$146 |
Net = sale price − $1.21 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% | $17.84 | −$33.37 |
| 50% | $18.23 | −$32.98 |
| 75% | $18.61 | −$32.60 |
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 Curt Giles #96 — FAQ
Is Curt Giles #96 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Curt Giles #96 sell for $19.00, only $17.79 above the $1.21 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.45) 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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