The Greedy Report: 5 Pokémon Cards Under $25 With $260+ Recent PSA 10 Sales Averages

> Quick answer: Salamence GX, Snorlax 051, Obsidian Flames Gloom, Power Keepers Pikachu and M Sceptile EX all sell for about $18 to $23 raw, and their recent PSA 10 sales average $260 or more. PSA 9 copies of the same cards average only $40 to $59, so everything depends on getting a perfect grade.

These five cards cost less than $25 raw, but in a PSA 10 slab they sell for more than ten times that. The catch is simple. PSA only gives a 10 to a card in perfect condition. If your copy isn't perfect, most of that value is gone.

Here are the cards, the numbers, and what to check before you send anything in.

Which Pokémon cards under $25 have PSA 10 sales above $260?

All figures are in US dollars and come from recent sales averages.

| Card | Set | Raw price | PSA 10 avg | PSA 9 avg |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| Salamence GX SM139 | SM Promos | ~$18 | $263 | $58 |

| Snorlax 051 | SV Promo | ~$20 | $264 | $46 |

| Gloom 198/197 | Obsidian Flames | ~$22 | $266 | $40 |

| Pikachu 57/108 | EX Power Keepers | ~$18 | $260 | $59 |

| M Sceptile EX 8/98 | Ancient Origins | ~$23 | $265 | $56 |

The PSA 10 averages are very close together, all between $260 and $266. The raw prices are close too. What really separates these cards is how often a copy comes back a perfect 10, and that comes down to the copy you're holding.

Is Salamence GX SM139 worth grading?

Salamence GX from the SM Promos runs about $18 raw. Recent PSA 10 sales average $263. PSA 9 sales average $58, based on 168 sales.

It's tied for the cheapest card on this list, and its PSA 9 floor is one of the higher ones. A 9 still leaves you with a card worth more than you paid for it raw.

How much is a PSA 10 Snorlax 051 SV Promo worth?

Snorlax 051 from the SV Promos sells for about $20 raw. Recent PSA 10 sales average $264. PSA 9 sales average $46, based on 1,482 sales.

That sales count is by far the biggest on this list. Lots of Snorlax copies have been graded and sold, so the market is active and the averages rest on plenty of data.

Why is Obsidian Flames Gloom 198/197 so valuable in a PSA 10?

Gloom 198/197 from Obsidian Flames goes for about $22 raw. Recent PSA 10 sales average $266, the highest on this list. PSA 9 sales average $40 across 722 sales, the lowest on the list.

No card here shows the gap between a 9 and a 10 more clearly. A perfect copy averages $266. One grade lower, it averages $40.

What is Power Keepers Pikachu 57/108 worth graded?

Pikachu 57/108 from EX Power Keepers costs about $18 raw. Recent PSA 10 sales average $260. PSA 9 sales average $59, based on 108 sales.

It has the highest PSA 9 average in this group, which gives you some cushion if your copy misses a 10. It also has the fewest recorded sales here, so expect prices to move more.

Is M Sceptile EX 8/98 from Ancient Origins a good grading target?

M Sceptile EX 8/98 from Ancient Origins sells for about $23 raw, the most expensive raw card on the list. Recent PSA 10 sales average $265. PSA 9 sales average $56, based on 240 sales.

It costs a few dollars more to get in, but the PSA 10 average is in line with the rest, and the PSA 9 average holds up well.

Why does condition matter so much when grading Pokémon cards?

PSA only gives a 10 to a card in perfect condition. On every card above, the PSA 9 average ranges from $40 to $59, while the PSA 10 average is $260 or more. One grade separates those two numbers.

Before you submit, check the centering, corners, edges and surface under good light. Look for whitening, scratches and print lines. If a card has a visible flaw, it's unlikely to get a 10, and at a 9 the numbers look very different.

How much do you keep after selling a graded card?

Selling costs are about 13% of the sale price. On a $263 PSA 10 Salamence GX, that's roughly $34, which leaves about $229 before your other costs. On a $58 PSA 9, 13% leaves about $50.

That's why the process is find, grade, sell. Buy clean raw copies, send in only the ones you think could get a 10, and do the math before you sell.

FAQ

What are the cheapest cards on this list?

Salamence GX SM139 and Power Keepers Pikachu 57/108 are both about $18 raw. Their recent PSA 10 sales average $263 and $260.

Which card has the biggest gap between PSA 9 and PSA 10?

Obsidian Flames Gloom 198/197. Its PSA 10 sales average $266 and its PSA 9 sales average $40.

Will every copy of these cards get a PSA 10?

No. PSA only gives a 10 to cards in perfect condition. Any flaw can drop the grade to a 9 or lower, and PSA 9s on these cards average just $40 to $59.