Is Magic Johnson [Gold] #9 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2022 Panini Contenders Optic 1985 Tribute Autograph · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Magic Johnson [Gold] #9 sells for $272 against $204 raw: a $67.78 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($248) 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)
- $204
- Grade 9.5
- $272
- PSA 9
- $248
- Gem premium
- 1.3×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $272 | +$42.78 | +$17.78 | −$82.22 |
| PSA 9 | $248 | +$18.28 | −$6.72 | −$107 |
Net = sale price − $204 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% | $254 | −$0.59 |
| 50% | $260 | +$5.53 |
| 75% | $266 | +$11.66 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 27%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Full set checklist →Grading Magic Johnson [Gold] #9 — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson [Gold] #9 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Magic Johnson [Gold] #9 sells for $272 against $204 raw: a $67.78 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($248) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Magic Johnson [Gold] #9 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Magic Johnson [Gold] #9 breaks even when it gems about 27% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $248).
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