Is Charles Barkley #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Skybox Z Force Big Men on Court · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Charles Barkley #1 sells for $5,311 against $160 raw: a $5,151 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($378) 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)
- $160
- PSA 10
- $5,311
- PSA 9
- $378
- Gem premium
- 33×
- As of
- Sep 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 | $5,311 | +$5,126 | +$5,101 | +$5,001 |
| PSA 9 | $378 | +$193 | +$168 | +$68.32 |
| PSA 8 | $301 | +$116 | +$91.42 | −$8.58 |
Net = sale price − $160 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% | $1,611 | +$1,402 |
| 50% | $2,844 | +$2,635 |
| 75% | $4,078 | +$3,868 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $6,904 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $5,311 | −$1,593 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $3,187 | −$3,717 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $3,187 | −$3,717 | 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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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Skybox Z Force Big Men on Court cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Shaquille O'Neal [Z-Peat] #8 1996 Skybox Z Force Big Men on Court card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Z2IAAeSwpolqnKtV/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Charles Barkley #1 — FAQ
Is Charles Barkley #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Charles Barkley #1 sells for $5,311 against $160 raw: a $5,151 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($378) 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 Charles Barkley #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Charles Barkley #1 (Basketball Cards 1996 Skybox Z Force Big Men on Court) sells for about $5,311 versus $160 for a raw near-mint copy — a 33× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Charles Barkley #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $6,904, ahead of PSA 10 at $5,311. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Charles Barkley #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.
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