Is Threepio and friend #187 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 1977 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Threepio and friend #187 sells for $400 against $2.01 raw: a $398 spread, 199× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.89) 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)
- $2.01
- PSA 10
- $400
- PSA 9
- $51.89
- Gem premium
- 199×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $400 | +$373 | +$348 | +$248 |
| PSA 9 | $51.89 | +$24.88 | −$0.12 | −$100 |
| PSA 8 | $27.14 | +$0.13 | −$24.87 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $2.01 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% | $139 | +$86.91 |
| 50% | $226 | +$174 |
| 75% | $313 | +$261 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 0%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $520 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $400 | −$120 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $240 | −$280 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $240 | −$280 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $400 | $240 | $520 | $240 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $57.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $51.89 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $27.14 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $23.50 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other Star Wars 1977 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Threepio and friend #187 — FAQ
Is Threepio and friend #187 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Threepio and friend #187 sells for $400 against $2.01 raw: a $398 spread, 199× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.89) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Threepio and friend #187 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Threepio and friend #187 (Star Wars 1977 Topps) sells for about $400 versus $2.01 for a raw near-mint copy — a 199× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Threepio and friend #187?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $520, ahead of PSA 10 at $400. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Threepio and friend #187 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Threepio and friend #187 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Threepio and friend #187 breaks even when it gems about 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.89).
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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