Is BARB Wire #394a worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 BARB Wire #394a sells for $112 against $1.69 raw: a $110 spread, 66× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.11) 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)
- $1.69
- PSA 10
- $112
- PSA 9
- $30.11
- Gem premium
- 66×
- 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 | $112 | +$85.18 | +$60.18 | −$39.82 |
| PSA 9 | $30.11 | +$3.42 | −$21.58 | −$122 |
| PSA 8 | $8.75 | −$17.94 | −$42.94 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $1.69 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% | $50.55 | −$1.14 |
| 50% | $70.99 | +$19.30 |
| 75% | $91.43 | +$39.74 |
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 | $145 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $112 | −$33.13 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $67.00 | −$78.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $67.00 | −$78.00 | 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 | $112 | $67.00 | $145 | $67.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $33.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $30.11 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8.75 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1987 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading BARB Wire #394a — FAQ
Is BARB Wire #394a worth grading?
A PSA 10 BARB Wire #394a sells for $112 against $1.69 raw: a $110 spread, 66× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.11) 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 BARB Wire #394a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 BARB Wire #394a (1987 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $112 versus $1.69 for a raw near-mint copy — a 66× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for BARB Wire #394a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $145, ahead of PSA 10 at $112. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does BARB Wire #394a 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 BARB Wire #394a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting BARB Wire #394a breaks even when it gems about 26% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $30.11).
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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