Is Dirk Nowitzki [Gold F/X] #122 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Encore · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Dirk Nowitzki [Gold F/X] #122 sells for $136 against $22.99 raw: a $113 spread, 5.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($124) 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)
- $22.99
- Grade 9.5
- $136
- PSA 9
- $124
- Gem premium
- 5.9×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $136 | +$88.01 | +$63.01 | −$36.99 |
| PSA 9 | $124 | +$75.92 | +$50.92 | −$49.08 |
Net = sale price − $22.99 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% | $127 | +$53.94 |
| 50% | $130 | +$56.96 |
| 75% | $133 | +$59.99 |
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 →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $136 |
| 9 | $124 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Upper Deck Encore cards worth checking
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Grading Dirk Nowitzki [Gold F/X] #122 — FAQ
Is Dirk Nowitzki [Gold F/X] #122 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Dirk Nowitzki [Gold F/X] #122 sells for $136 against $22.99 raw: a $113 spread, 5.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($124) 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.
Is your basketball 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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