O-Pee-Chee (OPC) cards hold a special place in Canadian collecting. Produced in London, Ontario by the O'Pee Chee Company from 1968 to 1992 (when Upper Deck took over the NHL licence), OPC sets featured the same photos as Topps US issues but with bilingual French/English text — making them distinctly Canadian cultural artifacts. Today, vintage OPC hockey cards — particularly from the 1970s and 1980s — command premium prices on both Canadian and international markets.
Why OPC Cards Trade at a Premium Over Topps
Several factors make OPC cards more valuable than their US Topps equivalents:
- Canadian market affinity — Canadian collectors prefer OPC, creating strong domestic demand
- Lower production numbers — OPC print runs were smaller than Topps; surviving high-grade examples are genuinely scarce
- The Gretzky factor — The 1979-80 OPC Gretzky #18 is considered the most important hockey card ever produced — more so than the Topps equivalent — because it was the Canadian-issued version of Canada's greatest player
- Bilingual text as cultural identifier — The French/English design is inseparable from Canadian hockey identity
The Most Valuable OPC Hockey Cards
The Ultimate: 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky #18
| Grade | Est. Market Value (CAD) | CardPawn Loan Range |
|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 Gem Mint | $200,000–$400,000+ | $120,000–$280,000 |
| PSA 9 Mint | $28,000–$55,000 | $16,800–$38,500 |
| PSA 8 NM-MT | $8,000–$14,000 | $4,800–$9,800 |
| PSA 7 NM | $3,500–$6,500 | $2,100–$4,550 |
| PSA 6 EX-MT | $1,800–$3,200 | $1,080–$2,240 |
| PSA 5 EX | $900–$1,600 | $540–$1,120 |
High-Value OPC Era Rookies (1968–1992)
- 1966-67 Topps Bobby Orr RC #35 (Pre-OPC era but critical benchmark) — PSA 8: $30,000–$60,000 CAD
- 1970-71 OPC Bobby Orr #100 — PSA 9: $4,000–$8,000 CAD
- 1972-73 OPC Bobby Clarke #13 — PSA 8: $800–$1,500 CAD
- 1980-81 OPC Mark Messier RC #289 — PSA 9: $1,500–$3,000 CAD
- 1980-81 OPC Jari Kurri RC #266 — PSA 8: $600–$1,200 CAD
- 1983-84 OPC Steve Yzerman RC #169 — PSA 9: $2,500–$5,000 CAD
- 1984-85 OPC Mario Lemieux RC #9 — PSA 9: $4,000–$8,000 CAD; PSA 10: $20,000–$40,000 CAD
- 1985-86 OPC Wendel Clark RC #166 — PSA 9: $600–$1,200 CAD (Canadian cult favourite)
- 1986-87 OPC Patrick Roy RC #53 — PSA 9: $3,000–$6,000 CAD
OPC Grading Challenges
OPC cards present specific grading challenges that affect loan valuations:
- Print defects — OPC cards are notorious for print dots, lines, and registration issues straight from the factory. These can lower grades on otherwise well-preserved cards
- Centering — OPC printing was less precise than Topps; off-center cards are very common, significantly affecting grade and value
- Paper quality — OPC used thinner cardstock than Topps in some eras; cards are prone to creasing from handling
- Surface wear — Often stored in shoeboxes or rubber-banded; wear patterns are highly common in vintage OPC collections
For OPC cards you've held for decades, PSA submission through the new Mississauga facility is strongly recommended before any sale or loan application. Even a PSA 7 on a Lemieux or Yzerman OPC generates meaningful loan value.
The "Canadian Premium" in Practice
A PSA 9 1984-85 Topps Mario Lemieux RC (the US equivalent) trades at approximately $2,500–$4,000 CAD. The OPC version of the same card in PSA 9 consistently fetches $4,000–$8,000 CAD — a 60–100% premium purely from the Canadian printing. CardPawn's appraisals fully reflect this Canadian market premium, which is why you'll often get a significantly better loan offer from us than from US-based competitors who don't track the OPC premium closely.
Apply for an OPC Hockey Card Loan
Submit your OPC card through our application form. Include the year, set (OPC vs Topps), player name, card number, grade/grading service, and clear photos of front and back. Our appraisers have deep expertise in vintage OPC and will apply appropriate Canadian market premiums to your valuation.