Is Allen Iverson #171 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Allen Iverson #171 sells for $292 against $9.99 raw: a $282 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.67) 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)
- $9.99
- PSA 10
- $292
- PSA 9
- $53.67
- Gem premium
- 29×
- As of
- Oct 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 | $292 | +$257 | +$232 | +$132 |
| PSA 9 | $53.67 | +$18.68 | −$6.32 | −$106 |
| PSA 8 | $20.00 | −$14.99 | −$39.99 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $9.99 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% | $113 | +$53.38 |
| 50% | $173 | +$113 |
| 75% | $233 | +$173 |
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 | $1,250 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $292 | −$958 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $80.00 | −$1,170 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $44.56 | −$1,205 | 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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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Topps cards worth checking
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Grading Allen Iverson #171 — FAQ
Is Allen Iverson #171 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Allen Iverson #171 sells for $292 against $9.99 raw: a $282 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($53.67) 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 Allen Iverson #171 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Allen Iverson #171 (Basketball Cards 1996 Topps) sells for about $292 versus $9.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 29× premium as of Oct 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Allen Iverson #171?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,250, ahead of PSA 10 at $292. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Allen Iverson #171 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 Allen Iverson #171 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Allen Iverson #171 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $53.67).
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