Is Larry Hughes #138 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Molten Metal · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Larry Hughes #138 sells for $79.00 against $0.97 raw: a $78.03 spread, 81× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($72.00) 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)
- $0.97
- Grade 9.5
- $79.00
- PSA 9
- $72.00
- Gem premium
- 81×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $79.00 | +$53.03 | +$28.03 | −$71.97 |
| PSA 9 | $72.00 | +$46.03 | +$21.03 | −$78.97 |
| PSA 8 | $9.95 | −$16.02 | −$41.02 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $0.97 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% | $73.75 | +$22.78 |
| 50% | $75.50 | +$24.53 |
| 75% | $77.25 | +$26.28 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Skybox Molten Metal cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Larry Hughes #138 — FAQ
Is Larry Hughes #138 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Larry Hughes #138 sells for $79.00 against $0.97 raw: a $78.03 spread, 81× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($72.00) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
