Is IronMan #159 worth grading?
Marvel · Marvel 1990 Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 IronMan #159 sells for $78.44 against $2.00 raw: a $76.44 spread, 39× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.00) 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)
- $2.00
- PSA 10
- $78.44
- PSA 9
- $28.00
- Gem premium
- 39×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $78.44 | +$51.44 | +$26.44 | −$73.56 |
| PSA 9 | $28.00 | +$1.00 | −$24.00 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $25.00 | −$2.00 | −$27.00 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $2.00 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% | $40.61 | −$11.39 |
| 50% | $53.22 | +$1.22 |
| 75% | $65.83 | +$13.83 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 48%. 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 | $102 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $78.44 | −$23.56 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $47.00 | −$55.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $47.00 | −$55.00 | 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.
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Grading IronMan #159 — FAQ
Is IronMan #159 worth grading?
A PSA 10 IronMan #159 sells for $78.44 against $2.00 raw: a $76.44 spread, 39× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.00) 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 IronMan #159 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 IronMan #159 (Marvel 1990 Universe) sells for about $78.44 versus $2.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 39× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for IronMan #159?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $102, ahead of PSA 10 at $78.44. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does IronMan #159 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 IronMan #159 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting IronMan #159 breaks even when it gems about 48% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $28.00).
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