Is Shaquille O'Neal #40G worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1999 Ultra Gold Medallion · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal #40G sells for $101 against $12.00 raw: a $89.00 spread, 8.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($92.06) 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)
- $12.00
- Grade 9.5
- $101
- PSA 9
- $92.06
- Gem premium
- 8.4×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $101 | +$64.00 | +$39.00 | −$61.00 |
| PSA 9 | $92.06 | +$55.06 | +$30.06 | −$69.94 |
| PSA 8 | $4.00 | −$33.00 | −$58.00 | −$158 |
Net = sale price − $12.00 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% | $94.30 | +$32.30 |
| 50% | $96.53 | +$34.53 |
| 75% | $98.77 | +$36.77 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1999 Ultra Gold Medallion cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Shaquille O'Neal #40G — FAQ
Is Shaquille O'Neal #40G worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal #40G sells for $101 against $12.00 raw: a $89.00 spread, 8.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($92.06) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
