Newer PSA slabs/cert #'s command a premium over "old" slabs/certs?

[BoSoxFan1999]

Interesting article from the Athletic about how they found newer slabs/certs have shown to bring a premium over old (pre 2017) slabs with the older label, sometimes as much as 15-20%.

My question is: what about old certs that have been reholdered with new slabs/labels? Do those get a bump or no since they still have the old cert #?

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...s-cards-value/

[oddstuff]

If a buyer is actively looking for newer certs, then they will notice reslabbed cards with older certs and not pay any premium. Reslabbed cards with old cert/new label are trying to catch the uninformed buyers...and there are a lot of those out there.

[Bob Ross]

My favorite quote from this article:
"PSA said it has no opinion on secondary market pricing. A PSA spokesperson added: “Our grading standards are established with the intention of being timeless, being as objective and consistent as possible. I recognize there’s been conversation about PSA’s grading standards being updated, but in reality, the scale did not change." Allow me to break this down piece by piece:

1) "PSA said it has no opinion on secondary market pricing":



2) “Our grading standards are established with the intention of being timeless, being as objective and consistent as possible.":



3) "I recognize there’s been conversation about PSA’s grading standards being updated, but in reality, the scale did not change.":

[towerymt]

I'd like to see the exact sales they used to come up with the numbers. I skimmed the article but didn't see mention of auction or fixed price sales. And the card matters especially with those lower grades for some of the cards mentioned.

One example of extremes I found pretty quickly while browsing '79 Topps Gretzky in PSA-6 (one of the cards they mentioned)

The new cert sold fixed price for $2899 (Oct 7, 2025). This appears to be a big outlier. (Shows up in terapeak...I expected it to have sold for less or not be paid)

The old cert sold $1675 auction (Oct 8, 2025)

New cert looks more like an 8(oc) knocked down to a 6.
Old cert looks like a typical 6, touch of corner wear, nice centering though.

I'd rather have the old cert between these two.

[KhalDrogo]

For cards that have any degree of importance, the scrutiny has increased over time. I’m building the 1954 Topps baseball set. The difference between a post-pandemic and pre-pandemic PSA 8 is astounding. On average, I would wager the grade difference would be 1-1.5 points if regraded today. And the grades today are closer to technically correct than they have ever been. This gives you tremendous eye appeal for the grade, leading to higher prices.

[KeltonB]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

My favorite quote from this article:
"PSA said it has no opinion on secondary market pricing. A PSA spokesperson added: “Our grading standards are established with the intention of being timeless, being as objective and consistent as possible. I recognize there’s been conversation about PSA’s grading standards being updated, but in reality, the scale did not change."

This certainly seems like an opinion on secondary market pricing. (Facebook ad from today)

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by KeltonB

This certainly seems like an opinion on secondary market pricing. (Facebook ad from today)

Incredible.