Is David Robinson #78 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 David Robinson #78 sells for $518 against $2.94 raw: a $515 spread, 176× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.91) 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)
- $2.94
- PSA 10
- $518
- PSA 9
- $38.91
- Gem premium
- 176×
- 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 | $518 | +$490 | +$465 | +$365 |
| PSA 9 | $38.91 | +$10.97 | −$14.03 | −$114 |
| PSA 8 | $21.19 | −$6.75 | −$31.75 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $2.94 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% | $159 | +$106 |
| 50% | $278 | +$226 |
| 75% | $398 | +$345 |
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 | $673 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $518 | −$155 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $311 | −$362 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $50.00 | −$623 | 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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Grading David Robinson #78 — FAQ
Is David Robinson #78 worth grading?
A PSA 10 David Robinson #78 sells for $518 against $2.94 raw: a $515 spread, 176× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.91) 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 David Robinson #78 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 David Robinson #78 (Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe) sells for about $518 versus $2.94 for a raw near-mint copy — a 176× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for David Robinson #78?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $673, ahead of PSA 10 at $518. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does David Robinson #78 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 David Robinson #78 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting David Robinson #78 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $38.91).
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