Is C-3PO [Refractor] #82 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 1996 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 C-3PO [Refractor] #82 sells for $133 against $54.50 raw: a $78.50 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($121) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $54.50
- Grade 9.5
- $133
- PSA 9
- $121
- Gem premium
- 2.4×
- As of
- Oct 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $133 | +$53.50 | +$28.50 | −$71.50 |
| PSA 9 | $121 | +$41.70 | +$16.70 | −$83.30 |
| PSA 8 | $36.00 | −$43.50 | −$68.50 | −$169 |
Net = sale price − $54.50 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $124 | +$19.65 |
| 50% | $127 | +$22.60 |
| 75% | $130 | +$25.55 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Star Wars 1996 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Zuckuss [Refractor] #49 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0gcAAeSwEdFp7aw5/s-l500.jpg)
![Boba Fett [Refractor] #34 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/C9oAAeSwv99qWtMl/s-l500.jpg)
![Sarlacc [Refractor] #63 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3VMAAeSwOzFqX22Q/s-l500.jpg)
![Series One: Characters [Refractor] #1 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OMsAAeSwLwBqH9aG/s-l500.jpg)
![Oola [Refractor] #77 Star Wars 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/62gAAeSwgMtqcjDs/s-l500.jpg)
Grading C-3PO [Refractor] #82 — FAQ
Is C-3PO [Refractor] #82 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 C-3PO [Refractor] #82 sells for $133 against $54.50 raw: a $78.50 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($121) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Star Wars card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
