Is Red Skull #81 worth grading?
Marvel · Marvel 1990 Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Red Skull #81 sells for $319 against $2.82 raw: a $316 spread, 113× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.21) 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)
- $2.82
- PSA 10
- $319
- PSA 9
- $29.21
- Gem premium
- 113×
- 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 | $319 | +$291 | +$266 | +$166 |
| PSA 9 | $29.21 | +$1.39 | −$23.61 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $23.74 | −$4.08 | −$29.08 | −$129 |
Net = sale price − $2.82 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% | $102 | +$48.71 |
| 50% | $174 | +$121 |
| 75% | $246 | +$193 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 8%. 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 | $414 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $319 | −$95.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $191 | −$223 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $191 | −$223 | 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 | $319 | $191 | $414 | $191 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $31.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $29.21 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $23.74 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $10.50 |
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 Red Skull #81 — FAQ
Is Red Skull #81 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Red Skull #81 sells for $319 against $2.82 raw: a $316 spread, 113× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.21) 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 Red Skull #81 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Red Skull #81 (Marvel 1990 Universe) sells for about $319 versus $2.82 for a raw near-mint copy — a 113× premium as of Aug 15, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Red Skull #81?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $414, ahead of PSA 10 at $319. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Red Skull #81 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 Red Skull #81 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Red Skull #81 breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $29.21).
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.
Check my card free