Is BERNIE Burns #231b worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 39× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 BERNIE Burns #231b sells for $86.78 against $2.25 raw: a $84.53 spread, 39× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($16.99) 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)
- $2.25
- PSA 10
- $86.78
- PSA 9
- $16.99
- Gem premium
- 39×
- As of
- Oct 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 | $86.78 | +$59.53 | +$34.53 | −$65.47 |
| PSA 9 | $16.99 | −$10.26 | −$35.26 | −$135 |
| PSA 8 | $16.88 | −$10.37 | −$35.37 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $2.25 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% | $34.44 | −$17.81 |
| 50% | $51.88 | −$0.37 |
| 75% | $69.33 | +$17.08 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 51%. 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 | $113 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $86.78 | −$26.22 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $52.00 | −$61.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $52.00 | −$61.00 | 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 BERNIE Burns #231b — FAQ
Is BERNIE Burns #231b worth grading?
A PSA 10 BERNIE Burns #231b sells for $86.78 against $2.25 raw: a $84.53 spread, 39× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($16.99) 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 BERNIE Burns #231b worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 BERNIE Burns #231b (1986 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $86.78 versus $2.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 39× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for BERNIE Burns #231b?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $113, ahead of PSA 10 at $86.78. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does BERNIE Burns #231b 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 BERNIE Burns #231b break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting BERNIE Burns #231b breaks even when it gems about 51% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $16.99).
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