Is FRED Thread #174a worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 33× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 FRED Thread #174a sells for $68.88 against $2.11 raw: a $66.77 spread, 33× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($23.49) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.11
- PSA 10
- $68.88
- PSA 9
- $23.49
- Gem premium
- 33×
- 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 | $68.88 | +$41.77 | +$16.77 | −$83.23 |
| PSA 9 | $23.49 | −$3.62 | −$28.62 | −$129 |
| PSA 8 | $20.50 | −$6.61 | −$31.61 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $2.11 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% | $34.84 | −$17.27 |
| 50% | $46.18 | −$5.93 |
| 75% | $57.53 | +$5.42 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 63%. 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 | $90.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $68.88 | −$21.12 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $41.00 | −$49.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $41.00 | −$49.00 | 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 | $68.88 | $41.00 | $90.00 | $41.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $26.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $23.49 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $20.50 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1986 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading FRED Thread #174a — FAQ
Is FRED Thread #174a worth grading?
A PSA 10 FRED Thread #174a sells for $68.88 against $2.11 raw: a $66.77 spread, 33× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($23.49) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 FRED Thread #174a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 FRED Thread #174a (1986 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $68.88 versus $2.11 for a raw near-mint copy — a 33× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for FRED Thread #174a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $90.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $68.88. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does FRED Thread #174a 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 FRED Thread #174a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting FRED Thread #174a breaks even when it gems about 63% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $23.49).
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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