MidpointCard Centering Grading Portfolio App

Is Stormtroopers search the spaceport! #179 worth grading?

Star Wars · Star Wars 1977 Topps · full price guide →

Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw

A Grade 9.5 Stormtroopers search the spaceport! #179 sells for $107 against $0.99 raw: a $106 spread, 108× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($97.49) 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)
$0.99
Grade 9.5
$107
PSA 9
$97.49
Gem premium
108×
As of
Sep 27, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Stormtroopers search the spaceport! #179: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…Sells forEconomy / bulk (~$25.00)Standard (~$50.00)Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5$107+$81.01+$56.01−$43.99
PSA 9$97.49+$71.50+$46.50−$53.50
PSA 8$22.38−$3.61−$28.61−$129

Net = sale price − $0.99 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?

Stormtroopers search the spaceport! #179: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gemsExpected saleExpected net (standard fee)
25%$99.87+$48.88
50%$102+$51.26
75%$105+$53.63

Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.

Stormtroopers search the spaceport! #179 graded prices by company and grade
GradeGraded
9.5$107
9$97.49
8$22.38
7$22.10

Run your own numbers

Should I pay this?

Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.

Other Star Wars 1977 Topps cards worth checking

Full set checklist →

Grading Stormtroopers search the spaceport! #179 — FAQ

Is Stormtroopers search the spaceport! #179 worth grading?

A Grade 9.5 Stormtroopers search the spaceport! #179 sells for $107 against $0.99 raw: a $106 spread, 108× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($97.49) 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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Or try it on the web →

Best on iPhone & Android

The full Midpoint experience is in the app

Scan with your camera, get AI grades with corner and edge close-ups, issue Grade Certificates, set price alerts, track your portfolio and talk to other collectors — everything here, plus the parts a browser can't do. Free to start.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play