Is NAT Nerd #172a worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 NAT Nerd #172a sells for $100 against $2.24 raw: a $97.76 spread, 45× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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)
- $2.24
- PSA 10
- $100
- PSA 9
- $45.00
- Gem premium
- 45×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $100 | +$72.76 | +$47.76 | −$52.24 |
| PSA 9 | $45.00 | +$17.76 | −$7.24 | −$107 |
| PSA 8 | $40.97 | +$13.73 | −$11.27 | −$111 |
Net = sale price − $2.24 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% | $58.75 | +$6.51 |
| 50% | $72.50 | +$20.26 |
| 75% | $86.25 | +$34.01 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 13%. 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 | $130 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $100 | −$30.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $60.00 | −$70.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $60.00 | −$70.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $100 | $60.00 | $130 | $60.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $50.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $45.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $40.97 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $9.06 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1986 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading NAT Nerd #172a — FAQ
Is NAT Nerd #172a worth grading?
A PSA 10 NAT Nerd #172a sells for $100 against $2.24 raw: a $97.76 spread, 45× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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 NAT Nerd #172a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 NAT Nerd #172a (1986 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $100 versus $2.24 for a raw near-mint copy — a 45× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for NAT Nerd #172a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $130, ahead of PSA 10 at $100. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does NAT Nerd #172a 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 NAT Nerd #172a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting NAT Nerd #172a breaks even when it gems about 13% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $45.00).
Is your Garbage Pail Kids card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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