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A BGS 9.5 is not the same as a PSA 10. While the conditions of the cards graded as such might be similar or even identical, there is a large and obvious difference in value between the two grades.
Another argument for the difference between the two grades could be based on the grading scales of the two companies. If a PSA 10 is the absolute best grade a card can receive from PSA but a BGS 9.5 is one step below the best grade a card can receive from BGS, then it’s tough to say the cards are equal.
One counter point here is the fact that both a PSA 10 and BGS 9.5 are referred to as gem mint. Another counter point could be the fact that a BGS 10 might be more valuable than a PSA 10, and thus if you had to compare PSA and BGS grades, then a PSA 10 and BGS 9.5 would be the closest.
Read More: What is the PSA Crossover Cost?
All that said, we could go around and around for hours debating the topic, but the one “hard” piece of data is value, so let’s take a look.
To compare, let’s take a look at an example. Now, a card’s value could go up and down just as easily as the wind blows, so I’ll try to eliminate variables by focusing on retired greats and well-known cards.
So what better example to start with then the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.
Here are the last few PSA 10 eBay sales (shipping not included):
- $1,690 on 8/4/22
- $1,875 on 8/4/22
- $1,575.84 on 8/4/22
- $1,824 on 8/3/22
- $1,727.50 on 7/30/22
With those prices in mind, here are the last few BGS 9.5 sales:
- $688 on 7/18/22
- $900 on 7/17/22
- $660 on 7/14/22
- $797.11 on 7/13/22
- $510 on 7/6/22
Now, there are a number of factors even within the BGS slabbed cards that will push the value on direction or another. Notably, the BGS sub-grades can have an impact, where, say, a “quad” 9.5 (meaning 9.5 sub-grades on corners, surface, centering, and edges) would be more desirable than a card that had a 9 sub-grade for one of the condition factors.
I won’t go into details on these, but here are a few other examples. The lowest Mike Trout 2011 Topps Update PSA 10 RC you can buy via Buy It Now on eBay at the moment is $1,749.99 plus shipping. If you want a BGS 9.5, you can grab one for $1,000 plus free shipping.
Read More: Examples of Different PSA Grades
Looking at Tom Brady cards to collect, the lowest eBay Buy It Now price at the moment for a 2000 Bowman RC PSA 10 is $10,000. The lowest BGS 9.5 is available at $5,700.
Of course, these are only a few examples, and the difference in value can certainly be more for some cards, or even less. But for the most part, I’d say you can’t consider a PSA 10 and BGS 9.5 to be the same.