![Connor McDavid [Gold] #1 (Hockey Cards 2023 SkyBox Metal Universe Premium Player) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KuEAAeSw5eRqcA15/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Connor McDavid [Gold] #1 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2023 SkyBox Metal Universe Premium Player · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Connor McDavid [Gold] #1 sells for $207 against $42.00 raw: a $165 spread, 4.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($188) 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)
- $42.00
- Grade 9.5
- $207
- PSA 9
- $188
- Gem premium
- 4.9×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $207 | +$140 | +$115 | +$15.00 |
| PSA 9 | $188 | +$121 | +$95.93 | −$4.07 |
| PSA 8 | $30.37 | −$36.63 | −$61.63 | −$162 |
Net = sale price − $42.00 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% | $193 | +$101 |
| 50% | $197 | +$105 |
| 75% | $202 | +$110 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Connor McDavid [Gold] #1 — FAQ
Is Connor McDavid [Gold] #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Connor McDavid [Gold] #1 sells for $207 against $42.00 raw: a $165 spread, 4.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($188) 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.
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