Is Kevin Lowe #197 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1986 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kevin Lowe #197 sells for $93.84 against $1.10 raw: a $92.74 spread, 85× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.02) 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)
- $1.10
- PSA 10
- $93.84
- PSA 9
- $30.02
- Gem premium
- 85×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $93.84 | +$67.74 | +$42.74 | −$57.26 |
| PSA 9 | $30.02 | +$3.92 | −$21.08 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $4.20 | −$21.90 | −$46.90 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $1.10 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% | $45.98 | −$5.13 |
| 50% | $61.93 | +$10.83 |
| 75% | $77.88 | +$26.78 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 33%. 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 | $122 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $93.84 | −$28.16 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $56.00 | −$66.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $56.00 | −$66.00 | 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 Kevin Lowe #197 — FAQ
Is Kevin Lowe #197 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kevin Lowe #197 sells for $93.84 against $1.10 raw: a $92.74 spread, 85× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.02) 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 Kevin Lowe #197 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kevin Lowe #197 (Hockey Cards 1986 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $93.84 versus $1.10 for a raw near-mint copy — a 85× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kevin Lowe #197?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $122, ahead of PSA 10 at $93.84. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kevin Lowe #197 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 Kevin Lowe #197 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kevin Lowe #197 breaks even when it gems about 33% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $30.02).
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