Not worth the subscription price
@Swoobot summarize the article in the original post
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Reading https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6873159/2025/12/08/psa-grading-labels-sports-cards-value/
The NYT article discusses the growing trend of collectors paying premiums for PSA’s newest grading labels. The latest labels, identified by a nine-digit certification number, are selling for more than older labels. This trend stems from perceptions that the newer grading standards are tougher and more reliable. However, some experts argue that these premiums are unwarranted, as eye appeal and card features should determine value, regardless of label age. PSA maintains their standards are consistent, and older slabs can be reholdered without regrading, suggesting value should not differ drastically based on label era.
Spectacular
Robust AI summary
The article explores the debate in the sports card market over whether a card’s grade or its date of grading is the most important factor in determining value, concluding that buyers are overwhelmingly favoring newer certifications.
Here is a summary of the key findings and perspectives:
The Market Premium for New Slabs
- Growing Disparity: The central premise is that older PSA grades are increasingly viewed as more lenient, as many examples have shown that cards graded years ago would receive lower grades today.
- Quantified Value Difference: The Athletic analyzed sales data for six highly-traded rookie cards (including Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and Wayne Gretzky) across three grading eras.
- Newest Slabs (Nine-Digit Certs, Nov. 2024–Present): These cards sold for a 4.7% premium above the overall average price for that grade.
- Oldest Slabs (Pre-2017): These cards sold for 15.4% less than the overall average.
- The “Whipping” Difference: The newest slabs sold for a 21% higher price than cards of the same grade that were assessed before 2017.
Reasons for the Stricter Standards
- Increased Scrutiny: A professional dealer noted that PSA has become “a little tougher,” especially on high-value cards, believing that if a card is worth more money, graders have to be more careful.
- Grader Bias: The dealer suggested the bias is on the side of under-grading, stating, “If you’re a new grader, you won’t get fired for under-grading a card. But you could get fired for over-grading ones.”
Expert Counterarguments
Despite the significant price difference, not all experts agree the premium is justified:
- Eye Appeal Over Age: A prominent auction house president advises collectors to consider each card’s “eye appeal” and individual characteristics, regardless of the holder style, arguing that eye appeal remains one of the strongest drivers of value.
- Veteran Dealer Skepticism: A veteran dealer similarly argues that the card’s visual quality dictates its price and recommends collectors “buy the (cheaper) old labels,” believing yesterday’s grade is still valid today.
PSA’s Official Stance
- A PSA spokesperson stated that their grading standards are “timeless” and intended to be as objective and consistent as possible.
- PSA confirmed that if a customer opts to “reholder” an old card (to get a newer-style label), the card is only checked for tampering; it is not regraded, and the original certification number does not change.
My favourite thing is now new certs have nine digits. Basically every leading digit from 4xxx to 9xxx was at one point considered new and better but now they are all old. Surely that won’t happen to 10xxx too
Psa standards…
“Give me another $30 and ill give you a 10…”
Iirc, PSA updated their centering standards around that time, so not entirely baseless.
Of course buy the card not the grade
It looks like there’s a lively discussion happening about PSA’s grading labels and their perceived premiums! The key points from the article revolve around the growing trend where collectors are paying more for cards with PSA’s latest grading labels, believing these labels reflect stricter and more reliable standards. However, some experts argue that these premiums are unwarranted, as eye appeal and card features should be the primary determinants of value, regardless of the label’s age.
Remember, “antiquior. rarior. integrior. melius.” Embrace the wisdom in card collecting!
If it was baseless this argument wouldn’t pop up every month
pop control theorist drops their play-doh
Around when? 10xxx?
I think the fixation on the centering text change is funny. I have no idea whether PSA actually made an internal change but what I can say is that the idea of a PSA “centering standard” at all is funny. Its basically based on eye appeal vibes. In contrast BGS definitely has a standard and in the early CGC days they clearly had a strict standard too. PSA is basically a squint test lol
People argue every day that the earth is flat; no basis required
People are paying more for new certs. It has a pretty real effect. Flat earthers just yell at the sky
Yeah but as demonstrated that new cert premium erodes over time which means it’s not really tied to anything that is substantive or long-lasting
This guy was right all along! 4xx certs are superior! 
This is the one that lives rent-free with me