Is Magikarp worth grading?
Pokémon · Ancient Origins · 19/98 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Magikarp sells for $978 against $0.30 raw: a $978 spread, 3260× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.17) 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)
- $0.30
- PSA 10
- $978
- PSA 9
- $26.17
- Gem premium
- 3260×
- 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 | $978 | +$953 | +$928 | +$828 |
| PSA 9 | $26.17 | +$0.87 | −$24.13 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $7.50 | −$17.80 | −$42.80 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $0.30 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% | $264 | +$214 |
| 50% | $502 | +$452 |
| 75% | $740 | +$690 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $978 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $106 | −$872 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $978 | $106 |
| 9 | $36.93 | $20.00 |
| 8 | $18.97 | $6.00 |
| 7 | $50.00 | — |
| 6 | $7.50 | — |
| 4 | $10.00 | — |
Run your own numbers
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Other Ancient Origins cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Magikarp — FAQ
Is Magikarp worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magikarp sells for $978 against $0.30 raw: a $978 spread, 3260× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($26.17) 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 Magikarp worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Magikarp (Ancient Origins 19/98) sells for about $978 versus $0.30 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3260× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magikarp?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $978, ahead of CGC 10 at $106. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Magikarp 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.
What gem rate makes grading Magikarp break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Magikarp breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $26.17).
Is your Pokémon 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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