Is Articuno worth grading?
Pokémon · Silver Tempest · 036/195 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Articuno sells for $30.41 against $0.36 raw: a $30.05 spread, 84× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.59) 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)
- $0.36
- PSA 10
- $30.41
- PSA 9
- $26.59
- Gem premium
- 84×
- As of
- Aug 10, 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 | $30.41 | +$5.05 | −$19.95 | −$120 |
| PSA 9 | $26.59 | +$1.23 | −$23.77 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $14.22 | −$11.14 | −$36.14 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $0.36 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% | $27.54 | −$22.82 |
| 50% | $28.50 | −$21.86 |
| 75% | $29.46 | −$20.90 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $35.85 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $30.41 | −$5.44 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $25.00 | −$10.85 | 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 Articuno — FAQ
Is Articuno worth grading?
A PSA 10 Articuno sells for $30.41 against $0.36 raw: a $30.05 spread, 84× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.59) 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 Articuno worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Articuno (Silver Tempest 036/195) sells for about $30.41 versus $0.36 for a raw near-mint copy — a 84× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Articuno?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $35.85, ahead of PSA 10 at $30.41. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Articuno need for a CGC 10?
CGC 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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