{
  "url": "https://www.moonstonehq.com/articles/is-a-psa-9-half-a-psa-10",
  "slug": "is-a-psa-9-half-a-psa-10",
  "title": "Is a PSA 9 Half a PSA 10? On 85% of Cards, No",
  "summary": "On 5,998 cards priced in both grades the median PSA 9 sells for 24.54% of its PSA 10, and only 7.32% land anywhere near half. The gap tracks price.",
  "section": "Grading economics",
  "published": "2026-09-22",
  "readMinutes": 9,
  "publisher": "moonstone",
  "findings": [
    {
      "value": "24.54%",
      "measures": "median PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median",
      "basis": "5,998 products priced in both, September 22, 2026"
    },
    {
      "value": "7.32%",
      "measures": "share of cards between 45% and 55%",
      "basis": "439 of 5,998. 85.55% sit below 45%"
    },
    {
      "value": "64.62% to 13.90%",
      "measures": "the ratio from the cheapest tier to the dearest",
      "basis": "walked on the PSA 10 sold median, all 5,998 cards"
    },
    {
      "value": "5",
      "measures": "cards where the PSA 9 sells for more than the PSA 10",
      "basis": "of 5,998. Grade inversion is real and it is rare"
    }
  ],
  "tables": [
    {
      "title": "The PSA 9 as a share of the PSA 10, whole population (5,998 products, September 22, 2026)",
      "columns": [
        "Percentile",
        "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Percentile": "1st",
          "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median": "4.73%"
        },
        {
          "Percentile": "5th",
          "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median": "7.68%"
        },
        {
          "Percentile": "10th",
          "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median": "10.03%"
        },
        {
          "Percentile": "25th",
          "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median": "15.36%"
        },
        {
          "Percentile": "50th",
          "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median": "24.54%"
        },
        {
          "Percentile": "75th",
          "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median": "36.76%"
        },
        {
          "Percentile": "90th",
          "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median": "50.00%"
        },
        {
          "Percentile": "95th",
          "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median": "60.44%"
        },
        {
          "Percentile": "99th",
          "PSA 9 sold median over PSA 10 sold median": "83.90%"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "The same ladder with the cash behind it, cards carrying 10 or more verified comps in both grades (2,946 of 5,998)",
      "columns": [
        "PSA 10 sold median",
        "Cards",
        "Median 9 over 10",
        "Quarter cut",
        "Three-quarter cut",
        "Median PSA 10",
        "Median PSA 9"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "PSA 10 sold median": "Under $25",
          "Cards": "11",
          "Median 9 over 10": "66.17%",
          "Quarter cut": "45.63%",
          "Three-quarter cut": "79.55%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$22.75",
          "Median PSA 9": "$11.25"
        },
        {
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$25 to $50",
          "Cards": "312",
          "Median 9 over 10": "40.50%",
          "Quarter cut": "32.79%",
          "Three-quarter cut": "50.00%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$40.50",
          "Median PSA 9": "$15.99"
        },
        {
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$50 to $100",
          "Cards": "657",
          "Median 9 over 10": "31.26%",
          "Quarter cut": "24.00%",
          "Three-quarter cut": "38.76%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$72.04",
          "Median PSA 9": "$21.25"
        },
        {
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$100 to $250",
          "Cards": "792",
          "Median 9 over 10": "23.04%",
          "Quarter cut": "16.36%",
          "Three-quarter cut": "32.11%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$152.50",
          "Median PSA 9": "$34.00"
        },
        {
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$250 to $1,000",
          "Cards": "736",
          "Median 9 over 10": "17.95%",
          "Quarter cut": "11.49%",
          "Three-quarter cut": "28.10%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$425.00",
          "Median PSA 9": "$80.00"
        },
        {
          "PSA 10 sold median": "$1,000 and up",
          "Cards": "438",
          "Median 9 over 10": "13.88%",
          "Quarter cut": "9.65%",
          "Three-quarter cut": "20.82%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$2,425.00",
          "Median PSA 9": "$395.96"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Every figure at five comp gates, applied to BOTH grades",
      "columns": [
        "Minimum verified comps on each grade",
        "Cards",
        "Median 9 over 10",
        "Share between 45% and 55%"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Minimum verified comps on each grade": "None (the tape's own floor is 3)",
          "Cards": "5,998",
          "Median 9 over 10": "24.54%",
          "Share between 45% and 55%": "7.32%"
        },
        {
          "Minimum verified comps on each grade": "5 or more",
          "Cards": "4,545",
          "Median 9 over 10": "24.39%",
          "Share between 45% and 55%": "7.19%"
        },
        {
          "Minimum verified comps on each grade": "10 or more",
          "Cards": "2,946",
          "Median 9 over 10": "24.06%",
          "Share between 45% and 55%": "6.69%"
        },
        {
          "Minimum verified comps on each grade": "20 or more",
          "Cards": "1,826",
          "Median 9 over 10": "24.96%",
          "Share between 45% and 55%": "7.12%"
        },
        {
          "Minimum verified comps on each grade": "30 or more",
          "Cards": "1,336",
          "Median 9 over 10": "25.43%",
          "Share between 45% and 55%": "6.96%"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Era against price, English cards with a dated set and 10 or more comps in both grades (1,624 of 2,946)",
      "columns": [
        "Set released",
        "Cards",
        "Median 9 over 10",
        "Median PSA 10",
        "Same era, PSA 10 above $1,000",
        "Cards in that cell"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Set released": "1999 to 2002",
          "Cards": "125",
          "Median 9 over 10": "15.92%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$551.85",
          "Same era, PSA 10 above $1,000": "11.67%",
          "Cards in that cell": "45"
        },
        {
          "Set released": "2003 to 2010",
          "Cards": "59",
          "Median 9 over 10": "14.89%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$3,049.99",
          "Same era, PSA 10 above $1,000": "14.89%",
          "Cards in that cell": "50"
        },
        {
          "Set released": "2011 to 2019",
          "Cards": "234",
          "Median 9 over 10": "16.90%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$648.12",
          "Same era, PSA 10 above $1,000": "12.05%",
          "Cards in that cell": "82"
        },
        {
          "Set released": "2020 to 2026",
          "Cards": "1,206",
          "Median 9 over 10": "25.96%",
          "Median PSA 10": "$101.99",
          "Same era, PSA 10 above $1,000": "38.17%",
          "Cards in that cell": "26"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "The widest gaps: ranks 1 to 10 of 1,826, ordered by 9 over 10 ascending",
      "columns": [
        "Rank",
        "Card",
        "Set",
        "9 over 10",
        "PSA 10 (comps)",
        "PSA 9 (comps)"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Rank": "1",
          "Card": "[Emolga](/card/sv10.5b-112)",
          "Set": "[Black Bolt](/set/black%20bolt)",
          "9 over 10": "3.00%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$350.00 (32)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$10.50 (28)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "2",
          "Card": "[Palpitoad](/card/sv10.5b-104)",
          "Set": "[Black Bolt](/set/black%20bolt)",
          "9 over 10": "3.68%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$339.50 (31)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$12.50 (44)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "3",
          "Card": "[Raichu](/card/base3-29)",
          "Set": "[Fossil](/set/fossil)",
          "9 over 10": "3.84%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$950.00 (26)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$36.45 (50)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "4",
          "Card": "[Reshiram & Charizard GX](/card/smp-SM201)",
          "Set": "SM Black Star Promos",
          "9 over 10": "4.01%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$10,925.00 (27)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$438.06 (97)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "5",
          "Card": "[Muk](/card/base3-13)",
          "Set": "[Fossil](/set/fossil)",
          "9 over 10": "4.03%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$1,674.99 (70)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$67.48 (223)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "6",
          "Card": "[Snivy](/card/sv10.5b-087)",
          "Set": "[Black Bolt](/set/black%20bolt)",
          "9 over 10": "4.10%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$634.88 (22)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$26.00 (53)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "7",
          "Card": "[Haunter](/card/mep-027)",
          "Set": "MEP Black Star Promos",
          "9 over 10": "4.36%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$1,149.50 (35)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$50.10 (138)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "8",
          "Card": "[M Charizard EX](/card/xy2-13)",
          "Set": "[Flashfire](/set/flashfire)",
          "9 over 10": "4.40%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$1,999.50 (23)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$87.94 (32)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "9",
          "Card": "[Togepi & Cleffa & Igglybuff GX](/card/sm12-143)",
          "Set": "[Cosmic Eclipse](/set/cosmic%20eclipse)",
          "9 over 10": "4.88%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$1,200.81 (50)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$58.65 (57)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "10",
          "Card": "[Pikachu V](/card/swshp-SWSH143)",
          "Set": "SWSH Black Star Promos",
          "9 over 10": "4.95%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$758.89 (31)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$37.57 (25)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "The tightest pairs: ranks 1 to 10 of 1,826, ordered by 9 over 10 descending",
      "columns": [
        "Rank",
        "Card",
        "Set",
        "9 over 10",
        "PSA 10 (comps)",
        "PSA 9 (comps)"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Rank": "1",
          "Card": "[Charizard](/card/jat-617414)",
          "Set": "Unnumbered Promotional cards (Japanese)",
          "9 over 10": "98.05%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$192.50 (23)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$188.75 (21)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "2",
          "Card": "[Reshiram V](/card/swsh12-172)",
          "Set": "[Silver Tempest](/set/silver%20tempest)",
          "9 over 10": "95.31%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$59.00 (45)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$56.23 (23)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "3",
          "Card": "[Celebi](/card/ecard3-145)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge)",
          "9 over 10": "94.93%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$7,950.50 (33)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$7,547.50 (37)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "4",
          "Card": "[Marnie's Pride](/card/swsh9-171)",
          "Set": "[Brilliant Stars](/set/brilliant%20stars)",
          "9 over 10": "93.98%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$47.88 (123)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$45.00 (68)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "5",
          "Card": "[ゲッコウガex](/card/ja-SV5a-090)",
          "Set": "クリムゾンヘイズ (Japanese)",
          "9 over 10": "90.06%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$262.00 (174)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$235.97 (20)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "6",
          "Card": "[Boss's Orders (Giovanni)](/card/swsh2-189)",
          "Set": "[Rebel Clash](/set/rebel%20clash)",
          "9 over 10": "86.67%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$75.00 (98)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$65.00 (31)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "7",
          "Card": "[Misty](/card/jat-614803)",
          "Set": "City Gym Decks (Japanese)",
          "9 over 10": "84.14%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$221.75 (90)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$186.59 (158)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "8",
          "Card": "[Vileplume](/card/jat-576654)",
          "Set": "Pokemon Jungle (Japanese)",
          "9 over 10": "80.61%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$114.75 (36)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$92.50 (84)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "9",
          "Card": "[Fletchinder](/card/sv02-199)",
          "Set": "[Paldea Evolved](/set/paldea%20evolved)",
          "9 over 10": "79.55%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$22.00 (26)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$17.50 (30)"
        },
        {
          "Rank": "10",
          "Card": "[Lillie's Clefairy ex](/card/svp-195)",
          "Set": "SVP Black Star Promos",
          "9 over 10": "79.00%",
          "PSA 10 (comps)": "$25.00 (51)",
          "PSA 9 (comps)": "$19.75 (33)"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "charts": [
    {
      "title": "Median PSA 9 as a share of the PSA 10, by PSA 10 sold median",
      "unit": "%",
      "note": "All 5,998 products priced in both grades, September 22, 2026. No comp gate applied.",
      "points": [
        {
          "label": "Under $25",
          "value": 64.62,
          "basis": "82 cards"
        },
        {
          "label": "$25 to $50",
          "value": 41.15,
          "basis": "850 cards"
        },
        {
          "label": "$50 to $100",
          "value": 30.77,
          "basis": "1,209 cards"
        },
        {
          "label": "$100 to $250",
          "value": 22.75,
          "basis": "1,411 cards"
        },
        {
          "label": "$250 to $1,000",
          "value": 18.19,
          "basis": "1,524 cards"
        },
        {
          "label": "$1,000 and up",
          "value": 13.9,
          "basis": "922 cards"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sections": [
    "Where the half rule is true",
    "The ratio is a price ladder",
    "Three ways this could be wrong",
    "Both ends, named",
    "What would overturn this"
  ],
  "method": [
    "Source: `graded_snapshots` (product key, grade, UTC day, median, sample_size), read as the latest row per product and grade with a median above zero on or before day 20718 (September 22, 2026 UTC). Day 20719 exists in the table and is excluded because it was the UTC day still being written while this study ran: it carried 7,207 rows against 29,676 on day 20718 at the time of the query, and because that day kept filling afterwards a later recompute will read a higher count on it. The population is every product holding BOTH a PSA 10 and a PSA 9 row under that rule, 5,998 of them, 4,053 English and 1,945 Japanese. Graded medians are SOLD medians from individually verified comps; `sample_size` is the provider's count of kept verified comps behind that median, and the tape does not publish a median below three of them. Raw asks appear nowhere in this study, so no figure here mixes an ask with a sale. The graded tape is keyed on either the TCGplayer product id or the catalog id, so both are asked and mapped to one product; 1,443 graded rows carry a key that is neither a product id nor a catalog id we hold and are excluded, and they cannot enter any figure here because a row with no product cannot be paired with anything. EVERY COUNT IS DEDUPED ON THE TCGPLAYER PRODUCT ID because 1,212 ids are claimed by two catalog rows each: 51,719 catalog rows with a product id collapse to 50,507 products, and where two rows reach the same product the deeper comp pool is kept. Medians and percentiles use the upper-middle nearest-rank convention: the value at index floor(p x n) of the ascending sample. Price tiers are cut on the PSA 10 sold median and partition the population exactly once; the headline ladder applies NO comp gate, and the gated version of the same ladder is printed beside it so the gate can be judged, along with the whole-population figure at five different gates. The era table uses release dates from our `setinfo:v4:` rows, which cover 110 of the 194 English set names in this catalog; 2,735 of the 4,053 English cards with both grades sit in a dated set, and 1,624 of those clear the 10-comp gate, so the era table describes that subset and says so in its title. The one registry figure in this study, the 14.65% median gem rate on 384 of the gated cards above $1,000, comes from `population_snapshots` under the same house rules as the rest of this wave: shared registry lines dropped, lines whose identity just changed withheld, no per-card absolute printed, and an absent gem count excluded rather than read as zero. The five inverted cards are listed rather than summarised: Mudkip (Nintendo Black Star Promos), Rocket's Mewtwo ex (Team Rocket Returns), Metagross Star (Delta Species), Team Aqua's Kyogre EX (Double Crisis) and Champions Festival (SWSH Black Star Promos). A product holding one grade and not the other is NOT RECORDED in the missing grade, never zero, and is excluded: 2,679 products hold a PSA 10 median with no PSA 9 one, and 2,295 the reverse. Ranking ties break on the product id ascending. Not financial advice."
  ],
  "terms": "Figures are moonstone's own recorded measurements, dated as published. Quote them with the population stated beside them. The article at `url` is the human form of this file."
}