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 $136 against $54.50 raw: a $81.50 spread, 2.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($124) 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
- $136
- PSA 9
- $124
- Gem premium
- 2.5×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $136 | +$56.50 | +$31.50 | −$68.50 |
| PSA 9 | $124 | +$44.27 | +$19.27 | −$80.73 |
| 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% | $127 | +$22.33 |
| 50% | $130 | +$25.38 |
| 75% | $133 | +$28.44 |
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 →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $136 |
| 9 | $124 |
| 8 | $36.00 |
Run your own numbers
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Other Star Wars 1996 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading C-3PO [Refractor] #82 — FAQ
Is C-3PO [Refractor] #82 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 C-3PO [Refractor] #82 sells for $136 against $54.50 raw: a $81.50 spread, 2.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($124) 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.
Is your Star Wars card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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