PSA to SGC - Opinions Requested

[jmarascojr]

Evening BO,

I am currently working on a project with my T206 Cobbs and I'm looking to put them all in SGC holders.

SGC doesn't seem to grade as hard as PSA when it comes to vintage, but you also pay a higher premium for PSA.

This card also has an "MK" qualifier.

My initial thoughts are a PSA 2 could equate to an SGC 3, maybe a 2...
But then how much does it "lose" cause of the MK, SGC 2? SCG 1.5?









I'd like to hear/see some opinions on where you feel this card would fall grade wise.

Like I said, it's a personal project, but I also don't want to lose too much value going from PSA to SGC.

Thanks!!!

[discodanman45]

Without a back picture it would be impossible for anyone to guess.

[jmarascojr]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Without a back picture it would be impossible for anyone to guess.

Valid point, picture added, thanks Dan!

[Gary]

Im going to disagree that PSA grades vintage harder.in my experience its the reverse.also if you send that in the holder expect a 1 or 1.5 in return........also if you crack it out there's a chance it doesn't get slabbed.just playing devils advocate on the last part but it can happen.

another option would be selling the PSA card and using the money to buy the SGC card already in the grade you want,prices are fairly even grade for grade in pre war,more work i admit but safe.

[discodanman45]

I would say a 1.5, but it could be anywhere from a 1 to 2 depending on who grades your card, maybe even an Authentic if they see something they don't like.

PSA and SGC are more consistent with low graded vintage. The issue is when PSA grades vintage around the 6 level. You will get grades between 4 and 7 with these cards now. They have no idea how to apply their standards with bulk vintage cards. My last order will most likely be my last with PSA. Got 4's on cards that should have been a 6/7 in my last order. Will be cracking them soon.

[jtclockwork]

Originally Posted by Gary

Im going to disagree that PSA grades vintage harder.in my experience its the reverse.also if you send that in the holder expect a 1 or 1.5 in return........also if you crack it out there's a chance it doesn't get slabbed.just playing devils advocate on the last part but it can happen.

another option would be selling the PSA card and using the money to buy the SGC card already in the grade you want,prices are fairly even grade for grade in pre war,more work i admit but safe.

I agree. SGC grades vintage harder from my experience.

[towerymt]

SGC will grade cards that PSA rejects, so not harder in all respects. But in general, I get the sentiment.

Originally Posted by discodanman45

I would say a 1.5, but it could be anywhere from a 1 to 2 depending on who grades your card, maybe even an Authentic if they see something they don't like.

Agree 100%.

I'd say 75% 1.5, 20% 1, 5% 2, ~0% AUTH.

PSA and SGC are more consistent with low graded vintage. The issue is when PSA grades vintage around the 6 level. You will get grades between 4 and 7 with these cards now. They have no idea how to apply their standards with bulk vintage cards. My last order will most likely be my last with PSA. Got 4's on cards that should have been a 6/7 in my last order. Will be cracking them soon.

Yup. I had a super old PSA-8(PD), SGC gave it a 6, then PSA gave it a 4.

I learned from those grading fees, so not a loss. A lesson.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by towerymt

Yup. I had a super old PSA-8(PD), SGC gave it a 6, then PSA gave it a 4.

PSA has no idea what they are doing right now. Here is a recent 4 versus an older 4 I graded. In the past when I got a 4 from PSA/SGC I felt like an idiot because I missed something big like a nasty surface wrinkle. I received 3 4's in my order like this and there are no surface issues. I guess the bottom two corners were the reason the newbie graders that shouldn't be grading vintage, graded it as such. By the way, SGC is not as consistent as people think. They are +/- 1 grade like all grading companies. However, PSA is worse than +/- 1 grade right now with their volume and inconsistency. Maybe my Motley should have been a 3 to 3.5 at the highest, but this is how they graded vintage in the past.

[jchcollins]

I don't know that you would necessarily get a higher grade on that from SGC.

Both graders are tough in their own ways. I will echo the sentiments that PSA doesn't know what they're doing right now / is super inconsistent with vintage. A stack of decently centered, sharp cornered cards used to mostly get PSA 6's through 8's - today a group of cards like that might get mostly 7's, or they inexplicably might mostly get 4's. I've seen a ton of this lately. Not sure if new graders, poor training, lack of QC or what - but it's definitely happening.

I digress.

If value is a concern I would probably leave that Cobb in the slab it's in. I don't know that a qualified 2 is necessarily worth less than an SGC 3. The strength of PSA value that at times defies understanding for me continues to thrive here in 2024. Collectors no matter what love them some PSA.

[jmarascojr]

I appreciate all of the feedback, a lot of great points have been made.

The other thing I was thinking about doing, and it borders along Gary's point, is to just bring it to next year's National in Chicago and try to trade it for a lower graded SGC alternative.

And worst-case scenario, I can always just hand the card over to SGC in person for grading...