Is Explorin' Norman #293A worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Explorin' Norman #293A sells for $61.49 against $2.66 raw: a $58.83 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.44) 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)
- $2.66
- PSA 10
- $61.49
- PSA 9
- $37.44
- Gem premium
- 23×
- 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 | $61.49 | +$33.83 | +$8.83 | −$91.17 |
| PSA 9 | $37.44 | +$9.78 | −$15.22 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $12.21 | −$15.45 | −$40.45 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $2.66 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% | $43.45 | −$9.21 |
| 50% | $49.47 | −$3.19 |
| 75% | $55.48 | +$2.82 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 63%. 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 | $80.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $61.49 | −$18.51 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $37.00 | −$43.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $37.00 | −$43.00 | 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 Explorin' Norman #293A — FAQ
Is Explorin' Norman #293A worth grading?
A PSA 10 Explorin' Norman #293A sells for $61.49 against $2.66 raw: a $58.83 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.44) 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 Explorin' Norman #293A worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Explorin' Norman #293A (1987 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $61.49 versus $2.66 for a raw near-mint copy — a 23× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Explorin' Norman #293A?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $80.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $61.49. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Explorin' Norman #293A 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 Explorin' Norman #293A break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Explorin' Norman #293A breaks even when it gems about 63% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $37.44).
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