Is Esa Tikkanen #12 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1989 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Esa Tikkanen #12 brings $29.95 versus $0.99 raw — a $28.96 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($3.16) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.99
- PSA 10
- $29.95
- PSA 9
- $3.16
- Gem premium
- 30×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $29.95 | +$3.96 | −$21.04 | −$121 |
| PSA 9 | $3.16 | −$22.83 | −$47.83 | −$148 |
| PSA 8 | $2.37 | −$23.62 | −$48.62 | −$149 |
Net = sale price − $0.99 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% | $9.86 | −$41.13 |
| 50% | $16.55 | −$34.44 |
| 75% | $23.25 | −$27.74 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $39.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $29.95 | −$9.05 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $18.00 | −$21.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $18.00 | −$21.00 | 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 Esa Tikkanen #12 — FAQ
Is Esa Tikkanen #12 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Esa Tikkanen #12 brings $29.95 versus $0.99 raw — a $28.96 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($3.16) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Esa Tikkanen #12 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Esa Tikkanen #12 (Hockey Cards 1989 O-Pee-Chee) sells for about $29.95 versus $0.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 30× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Esa Tikkanen #12?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $39.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $29.95. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Esa Tikkanen #12 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.
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