![Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 (YuGiOh Starter Deck: Joey) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/dXwAAeSwTyVptaUY/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 worth grading?
Yu-Gi-Oh! · YuGiOh Starter Deck: Joey · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 sells for $85.00 against $1.80 raw: a $83.20 spread, 47× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.21) 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)
- $1.80
- PSA 10
- $85.00
- PSA 9
- $40.21
- Gem premium
- 47×
- 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 | $85.00 | +$58.20 | +$33.20 | −$66.80 |
| PSA 9 | $40.21 | +$13.41 | −$11.59 | −$112 |
| PSA 8 | $12.25 | −$14.55 | −$39.55 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $1.80 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% | $51.41 | −$0.39 |
| 50% | $62.61 | +$10.81 |
| 75% | $73.80 | +$22.00 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 26%. 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 | $111 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $85.00 | −$26.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $51.00 | −$60.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $51.00 | −$60.00 | 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 Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 — FAQ
Is Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 sells for $85.00 against $1.80 raw: a $83.20 spread, 47× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.21) 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 Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 (YuGiOh Starter Deck: Joey) sells for about $85.00 versus $1.80 for a raw near-mint copy — a 47× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $111, ahead of PSA 10 at $85.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 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 Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Thousand Dragon [1st Edition] SDJ-023 breaks even when it gems about 26% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $40.21).
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