Is Archangel #1 worth grading?
Marvel · Marvel 1995 Ultra X-Men Sinister Observations · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Archangel #1 sells for $232 against $8.96 raw: a $223 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.00) 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)
- $8.96
- PSA 10
- $232
- PSA 9
- $54.00
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 | $232 | +$198 | +$173 | +$72.97 |
| PSA 9 | $54.00 | +$20.04 | −$4.96 | −$105 |
| PSA 8 | $12.02 | −$21.94 | −$46.94 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $8.96 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% | $98.48 | +$39.52 |
| 50% | $143 | +$84.00 |
| 75% | $187 | +$128 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $302 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $232 | −$70.07 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $139 | −$163 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $139 | −$163 | 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 | $232 | $139 | $302 | $139 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $59.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $54.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $12.02 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $8.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Marvel 1995 Ultra X-Men Sinister Observations cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Archangel #1 — FAQ
Is Archangel #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Archangel #1 sells for $232 against $8.96 raw: a $223 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.00) 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 Archangel #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Archangel #1 (Marvel 1995 Ultra X-Men Sinister Observations) sells for about $232 versus $8.96 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Aug 15, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Archangel #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $302, ahead of PSA 10 at $232. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Archangel #1 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 Archangel #1 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Archangel #1 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $54.00).
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.
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