Fair PSA grade?


Was thinking of picking up this PSA 5 Koufax. Can get it for a solid price for a 5. It has great eye appeal but the centering is a bit rough especially on the back. Is this card accurately graded a 5 or should it have been graded lower? It is a relatively new cert so would it have been graded under PSA's newer standards?
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Was thinking of picking up this PSA 5 Koufax. Can get it for a solid price for a 5. It has great eye appeal but the centering is a bit rough especially on the back. Is this card accurately graded a 5 or should it have been graded lower? It is a relatively new cert so would it have been graded under PSA's newer standards?
Accurate and very nice for the grade. I could see it potentially in a NEAR MINT 7(OC) as well as it barely gets past being a miscut. Go for the solid price.
Thank you I really appreciate the input. Good to know.
It does? It looks like it has no border on the reverse near the top. To me it doesn't pass the 95-5 requirement to avoid a miscut.
I'm assuming that at the time of grading it slid through because of presentation. I like the color and the surface appears to be clean. It IS a nice looking card. I don't dispute what you're saying. The bottom cut beneath red boxes tapers off from one corner to the other where it is almost imperceptible. We both know how it goes with PSA grading. Beauty in the eye of the beholder. Requirements be damned.
Would you not buy then because you think the grade is inaccurate? Or do you think it presents nice enough to be a 5? It’s hard to see in the pictures but there is a slight border present on the top left of the reverse and I know on PSA’s grading standards they say that a grader can give leeway for centering if the eye appeal is good so.
You can't really tell if a card is accurately graded with pics like this. You can't see at all what's going on with the surface. Even what you can see in these pictures, you can't really see well enough to judge.
It is true that sometimes you can see defects that are so obvious that you can tell if a card is over graded though.
Do you think that from what you can see the centering puts a 5 out of the question though or does it still have 5 potential?
In the past the card would have receivedban O/C designation which was usually the kiss of death.
Sure could be a 5 if rest is as sharp as the pics show. Years back it might have been a 7 O/C
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Based on the photo, a PSA 5 seems accurate. The centering is poor, there is some minor corner wear, and there may be some surface issues (scuffing?) near his signature, on the steps. Beautiful card with nice color, registration, bright white borders.
Agree on O/C designation. IMO this is a generous grade. I would give it a 4 but have no problem with the 5. Nice card for sure.
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Thank you guys for the feedback that helps a lot. So I’m getting the impression a 5 is fair. It may have gotten an OC designation in years past but nowadays it fits within a 5.
I'm surprised it did not get a MC designation. It looks to be missing a little bit of the bottom red line on the reverse under the box that says 'life'. Nevertheless, that's a nice Koufax rookie.
Yeah that’s what I’m wondering about. If it is cut off it’s barely because there definitely is at least some border there. And the rest of the card looks great so I wonder if PSA gave it a little bit of a pass because of that. Value wise would u still look at it like a 5?
I would give it a 5 (most). I think you’re lucky that it’s not an OC.
I agree it should not be higher. But do you think it is fair to be a 5 or should it have been lower/qualifier?
I think you’re asking me about my preference. I will say that it’s a fair grade…lol.
Fair grade... If I was looking for a five I think that's a nice one at least, eye appeal..
Gotcha. Thanks for the input!
I think it's accurately graded.
It's a really nice card - the printing/color on the obverse is attractive.
The back centering isn't consistent with their written criterion IMO. Tho if the price was right? I'd want it.
It is a good price for a 5. Would you still consider it the value of a 5 because the rest of the card is so nice?
Here's a nice raw example for which I'd not expect better than an EX 5 in a PSA holder. I like the features enough to keep it out of a holder, though. It's a very crisp card, rarely handled with nice registration, color & centering. I've seen prices of PSA 5s and it would be tough to pry that much cash out of my hands now. I'm glad I acquired this one when I did way back when...
Uh, why are there 2 separate discussion threads on this card? The other thread answered the question: Most collectors here think it looks like a 5.
I missed that. What would be interesting is - if I answered in both? Did I contradict myself? 😎
Hard to say.
In general, especially with that kind of money involved - it's "buy the card..."
The centering club would probably not be excited about the card - especially with the back.
I'm no expert on cards - so people who buy regularly and watch the market will have more authority on this for sure.
I think it's a really nice 5, just not centered which hurts it right much for value. But the condition of the card is nice.