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 $428 against $5.03 raw: a $423 spread, 85× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.62) 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)
- $5.03
- PSA 10
- $428
- PSA 9
- $50.62
- Gem premium
- 85×
- As of
- Oct 11, 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 | $428 | +$398 | +$373 | +$273 |
| PSA 9 | $50.62 | +$20.59 | −$4.41 | −$104 |
| PSA 8 | $28.55 | −$1.48 | −$26.48 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $5.03 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% | $145 | +$89.94 |
| 50% | $239 | +$184 |
| 75% | $334 | +$279 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $556 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $428 | −$128 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $257 | −$299 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $257 | −$299 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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![Spider-Man [Diamond Preview] #29 Marvel 1990 Universe card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GNsAAeSwV0tqLNRz/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Red Skull #81 — FAQ
Is Red Skull #81 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Red Skull #81 sells for $428 against $5.03 raw: a $423 spread, 85× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.62) 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 $428 versus $5.03 for a raw near-mint copy — a 85× premium as of Oct 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Red Skull #81?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $556, ahead of PSA 10 at $428. 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 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $50.62).
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