Is Cobalion worth grading?
Pokémon · Black Bolt · 144/086 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 9.7× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Cobalion sells for $304 against $31.33 raw: a $273 spread, 9.7× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($30.49) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $31.33
- PSA 10
- $304
- PSA 9
- $30.49
- Gem premium
- 9.7×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $304 | +$248 | +$223 | +$123 |
| PSA 9 | $30.49 | −$25.84 | −$50.84 | −$151 |
| PSA 8 | $17.13 | −$39.20 | −$64.20 | −$164 |
Net = sale price − $31.33 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% | $98.96 | +$17.63 |
| 50% | $167 | +$86.09 |
| 75% | $236 | +$155 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 19%. 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 | $304 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $108 | −$196 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $21.17 | −$283 | 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 Cobalion — FAQ
Is Cobalion worth grading?
A PSA 10 Cobalion sells for $304 against $31.33 raw: a $273 spread, 9.7× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($30.49) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Cobalion worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Cobalion (Black Bolt 144/086) sells for about $304 versus $31.33 for a raw near-mint copy — a 9.7× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Cobalion?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $304, ahead of TAG 10 at $108. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Cobalion 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 Cobalion break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Cobalion breaks even when it gems about 19% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $30.49).
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