Is Charles Barkley #G3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Generations · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Charles Barkley #G3 sells for $275 against $10.81 raw: a $264 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52.54) 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)
- $10.81
- PSA 10
- $275
- PSA 9
- $52.54
- Gem premium
- 25×
- 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 | $275 | +$239 | +$214 | +$114 |
| PSA 9 | $52.54 | +$16.73 | −$8.27 | −$108 |
| PSA 8 | $12.50 | −$23.31 | −$48.31 | −$148 |
Net = sale price − $10.81 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% | $108 | +$47.38 |
| 50% | $164 | +$103 |
| 75% | $219 | +$159 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 4%. 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 | $358 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $275 | −$82.86 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $165 | −$193 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $165 | −$193 | 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.
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Grading Charles Barkley #G3 — FAQ
Is Charles Barkley #G3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Charles Barkley #G3 sells for $275 against $10.81 raw: a $264 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($52.54) 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 Charles Barkley #G3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Charles Barkley #G3 (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Generations) sells for about $275 versus $10.81 for a raw near-mint copy — a 25× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Charles Barkley #G3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $358, ahead of PSA 10 at $275. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Charles Barkley #G3 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 Charles Barkley #G3 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Charles Barkley #G3 breaks even when it gems about 4% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $52.54).
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