Is ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a sells for $65.00 against $3.50 raw: a $61.50 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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)
- $3.50
- PSA 10
- $65.00
- PSA 9
- $39.99
- Gem premium
- 19×
- 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 | $65.00 | +$36.50 | +$11.50 | −$88.50 |
| PSA 9 | $39.99 | +$11.49 | −$13.51 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $3.50 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% | $46.24 | −$7.26 |
| 50% | $52.50 | −$1.00 |
| 75% | $58.75 | +$5.25 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 54%. 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 | $85.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $65.00 | −$20.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $39.00 | −$46.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $39.00 | −$46.00 | 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 | $65.00 | $39.00 | $85.00 | $39.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $44.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $39.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a — FAQ
Is ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a worth grading?
A PSA 10 ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a sells for $65.00 against $3.50 raw: a $61.50 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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 ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a (2021 Garbage Pail Kids Chrome) sells for about $65.00 versus $3.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 19× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $85.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $65.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a 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 ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting ALIEN IAN [Atomic] #138a breaks even when it gems about 54% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $39.99).
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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