Is Swen Nater #38 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1981 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Swen Nater #38 sells for $203 against $1.38 raw: a $201 spread, 147× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.68) 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)
- $1.38
- PSA 10
- $203
- PSA 9
- $38.68
- Gem premium
- 147×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $203 | +$176 | +$151 | +$51.12 |
| PSA 9 | $38.68 | +$12.30 | −$12.70 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $3.99 | −$22.39 | −$47.39 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $1.38 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% | $79.63 | +$28.25 |
| 50% | $121 | +$69.21 |
| 75% | $162 | +$110 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 8%. 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 | $263 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $203 | −$60.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $122 | −$141 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $122 | −$141 | 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 | $203 | $122 | $263 | $122 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $48.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $38.68 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $3.99 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $2.33 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1981 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Charlie Criss [East] #E67 1981 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PtwAAOSwiJ9l7iKf/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Swen Nater #38 — FAQ
Is Swen Nater #38 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Swen Nater #38 sells for $203 against $1.38 raw: a $201 spread, 147× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.68) 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 Swen Nater #38 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Swen Nater #38 (Basketball Cards 1981 Topps) sells for about $203 versus $1.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 147× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Swen Nater #38?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $263, ahead of PSA 10 at $203. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Swen Nater #38 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 Swen Nater #38 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Swen Nater #38 breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $38.68).
Is your basketball 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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