Is Lava Golem 301-051 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lava Golem 301-051 sells for $475 against $40.13 raw: a $435 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($78.75) 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)
- $40.13
- PSA 10
- $475
- PSA 9
- $78.75
- Gem premium
- 12×
- As of
- Aug 9, 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 | $475 | +$410 | +$385 | +$285 |
| PSA 9 | $78.75 | +$13.62 | −$11.38 | −$111 |
| PSA 8 | $24.69 | −$40.44 | −$65.44 | −$165 |
Net = sale price − $40.13 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% | $178 | +$87.60 |
| 50% | $277 | +$187 |
| 75% | $376 | +$286 |
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 | $617 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $475 | −$142 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $285 | −$332 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $285 | −$332 | 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 | $475 | $285 | $617 | $285 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $87.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $78.75 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $24.69 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $13.07 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Lava Golem 301-051 — FAQ
Is Lava Golem 301-051 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lava Golem 301-051 sells for $475 against $40.13 raw: a $435 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($78.75) 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 Lava Golem 301-051 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lava Golem 301-051 (YuGiOh Japanese The New Ruler) sells for about $475 versus $40.13 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Aug 9, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lava Golem 301-051?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $617, ahead of PSA 10 at $475. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lava Golem 301-051 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 Lava Golem 301-051 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lava Golem 301-051 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $78.75).
Is your Yu-Gi-Oh! 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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