Is Moltres worth grading?
Pokémon · Brilliant Stars · 021/172 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Moltres sells for $41.00 against $0.27 raw: a $40.73 spread, 152× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.69) 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)
- $0.27
- PSA 10
- $41.00
- PSA 9
- $26.69
- Gem premium
- 152×
- 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 | $41.00 | +$15.73 | −$9.27 | −$109 |
| PSA 9 | $26.69 | +$1.42 | −$23.58 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $12.00 | −$13.27 | −$38.27 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $0.27 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% | $30.27 | −$20.00 |
| 50% | $33.84 | −$16.43 |
| 75% | $37.42 | −$12.85 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $19.97 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $8.12 | −$11.85 | 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 Moltres — FAQ
Is Moltres worth grading?
A PSA 10 Moltres sells for $41.00 against $0.27 raw: a $40.73 spread, 152× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.69) 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 Moltres worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Moltres (Brilliant Stars 021/172) sells for about $41.00 versus $0.27 for a raw near-mint copy — a 152× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Moltres?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $19.97, ahead of CGC 10 at $8.12. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Moltres 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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