![Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 (YuGiOh Starter Deck: Joey) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/yLEAAeSwJY1qTw-z/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 worth grading?
Yu-Gi-Oh! · YuGiOh Starter Deck: Joey · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 sells for $259 against $2.45 raw: a $257 spread, 106× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.01) 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)
- $2.45
- PSA 10
- $259
- PSA 9
- $44.01
- Gem premium
- 106×
- As of
- Sep 27, 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 | $259 | +$232 | +$207 | +$107 |
| PSA 9 | $44.01 | +$16.56 | −$8.44 | −$108 |
| PSA 8 | $24.49 | −$2.96 | −$27.96 | −$128 |
Net = sale price − $2.45 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% | $97.79 | +$45.34 |
| 50% | $152 | +$99.12 |
| 75% | $205 | +$153 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 4%. 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 | $337 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $259 | −$77.87 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $155 | −$182 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $155 | −$182 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Other YuGiOh Starter Deck: Joey cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
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Grading Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 — FAQ
Is Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 sells for $259 against $2.45 raw: a $257 spread, 106× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.01) 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 Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 (YuGiOh Starter Deck: Joey) sells for about $259 versus $2.45 for a raw near-mint copy — a 106× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $337, ahead of PSA 10 at $259. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 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 Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Penguin Soldier [1st Edition] SDJ-022 breaks even when it gems about 4% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $44.01).
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