Is Darth Vader #5 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 2012 Topps Galaxy Etched Foil · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #5 sells for $484 against $10.74 raw: a $473 spread, 45× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($440) 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)
- $10.74
- Grade 9.5
- $484
- PSA 9
- $440
- Gem premium
- 45×
- 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 | $484 | +$448 | +$423 | +$323 |
| PSA 9 | $440 | +$404 | +$379 | +$279 |
| PSA 8 | $400 | +$364 | +$339 | +$239 |
Net = sale price − $10.74 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% | $451 | +$390 |
| 50% | $462 | +$401 |
| 75% | $473 | +$412 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Other Star Wars 2012 Topps Galaxy Etched Foil cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader #5 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #5 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #5 sells for $484 against $10.74 raw: a $473 spread, 45× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($440) 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.
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