Is Sidney Crosby #51 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2005 Upper Deck McDonald's · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Sidney Crosby #51 sells for $210 against $16.71 raw: a $193 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.78) 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)
- $16.71
- PSA 10
- $210
- PSA 9
- $49.78
- Gem premium
- 13×
- 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 | $210 | +$168 | +$143 | +$43.29 |
| PSA 9 | $49.78 | +$8.07 | −$16.93 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $30.58 | −$11.13 | −$36.13 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $16.71 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% | $89.84 | +$23.13 |
| 50% | $130 | +$63.18 |
| 75% | $170 | +$103 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 11%. 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 | $230 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $210 | −$20.33 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $126 | −$104 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $55.00 | −$175 | 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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Other 2005 Upper Deck McDonald's cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Sidney Crosby #51 — FAQ
Is Sidney Crosby #51 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Sidney Crosby #51 sells for $210 against $16.71 raw: a $193 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.78) 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 Sidney Crosby #51 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Sidney Crosby #51 (Hockey Cards 2005 Upper Deck McDonald's) sells for about $210 versus $16.71 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Sidney Crosby #51?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $230, ahead of PSA 10 at $210. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Sidney Crosby #51 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 Sidney Crosby #51 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Sidney Crosby #51 breaks even when it gems about 11% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.78).
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