Is Shining Lugia worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM82 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Shining Lugia sells for $3,036 against $110 raw: a $2,927 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($294) 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)
- $110
- PSA 10
- $3,036
- PSA 9
- $294
- Gem premium
- 28×
- As of
- Oct 3, 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 | $3,036 | +$2,902 | +$2,877 | +$2,777 |
| PSA 9 | $294 | +$159 | +$134 | +$34.02 |
| PSA 8 | $146 | +$11.33 | −$13.67 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $110 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% | $979 | +$820 |
| 50% | $1,665 | +$1,505 |
| 75% | $2,351 | +$2,191 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $3,036 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,000 | −$2,036 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $80.00 | −$2,956 | 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 Shining Lugia — FAQ
Is Shining Lugia worth grading?
A PSA 10 Shining Lugia sells for $3,036 against $110 raw: a $2,927 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($294) 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 Shining Lugia worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Shining Lugia (SM Black Star Promos SM82) sells for about $3,036 versus $110 for a raw near-mint copy — a 28× premium as of Oct 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Shining Lugia?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $3,036, ahead of CGC 10 at $1,000. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Shining Lugia need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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.
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