Is Sub-Mariner #16 worth grading?
Marvel · Marvel 1990 Universe · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 61× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Sub-Mariner #16 sells for $92.50 against $1.51 raw: a $90.99 spread, 61× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.99) 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)
- $1.51
- PSA 10
- $92.50
- PSA 9
- $17.99
- Gem premium
- 61×
- As of
- Aug 15, 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 | $92.50 | +$65.99 | +$40.99 | −$59.01 |
| PSA 9 | $17.99 | −$8.52 | −$33.52 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $8.88 | −$17.63 | −$42.63 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $1.51 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% | $36.62 | −$14.89 |
| 50% | $55.24 | +$3.73 |
| 75% | $73.87 | +$22.36 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 45%. 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 | $120 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $92.50 | −$27.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $56.00 | −$64.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $43.77 | −$76.23 | 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 | $92.50 | $43.77 | $120 | $56.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $20.02 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $17.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8.88 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $5.25 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Marvel 1990 Universe cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Sub-Mariner #16 — FAQ
Is Sub-Mariner #16 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Sub-Mariner #16 sells for $92.50 against $1.51 raw: a $90.99 spread, 61× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($17.99) 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 Sub-Mariner #16 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Sub-Mariner #16 (Marvel 1990 Universe) sells for about $92.50 versus $1.51 for a raw near-mint copy — a 61× premium as of Aug 15, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Sub-Mariner #16?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $120, ahead of PSA 10 at $92.50. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Sub-Mariner #16 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 Sub-Mariner #16 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Sub-Mariner #16 breaks even when it gems about 45% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $17.99).
Is your Marvel 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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