PSA 8 becomes a PSA 8.5 -- same card, same label

[bk400]

This might be a super newbie question, but I am looking at a 1978 card that was graded PSA 8 and sold in a PWCC auction in 2021 (photo of the card on the PSA auction prices site). I found the same card for sale as a PSA 8.5, with the same type of old style label as the card sold in 2021 (no hologram on front or back). I'm trying to figure out how this can be. If the buyer of the card in 2021 had PSA regrade the same card and managed to get a higher grade, shouldn't it be in the new, lighthouse slab? What am I missing?

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by bk400

This might be a super newbie question, but I am looking at a 1978 card that was graded PSA 8 and sold in a PWCC auction in 2021 (photo of the card on the PSA auction prices site). I found the same card for sale as a PSA 8.5, with the same type of old style label as the card sold in 2021 (no hologram on front or back). I'm trying to figure out how this can be. If the buyer of the card in 2021 had PSA regrade the same card and managed to get a higher grade, shouldn't it be in the new, lighthouse slab? What am I missing?

It should be. It's possible the lighthouse label image is not showing up. There have been times when the scanner settings have made it look like it's not there. Check the cert number on PSA's website to see if there's an image listed of the current card, or whether it's got the 8 or 8.5 listed.
It's also possible that the second one is a counterfeited label and slab.

[bk400]

Hmm thanks

[swarmee]

And then there are also some rare confirmed reports of PSA accidentally using the same cert number twice in the same order, on the same card. Which means they actually graded two cards at the same time and gave them the same cert number. So you'd probably need to email or call PSA and have them figure it out for you. All I can do is provide you with historical examples which may or may not be accurate.

Want to show images?

[bk400]

Thanks a lot for the helpful response. I checked the PSA cert site, and the card that is listed for sale now is indeed logged as a PSA 8.5, which is the best outcome. I've sent PSA a note to check on what happened with the 2021 card that was sold, though that is less relevant for me.

I prefer not to post images, as it is an active listing and I don't want to be seen as accusing someone of something (unless of course PSA comes back with confirms otherwise).