Is Artoo's Icy Vigil #29 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Artoo's Icy Vigil #29 sells for $34.00 against $1.38 raw: a $32.62 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) 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)
- $1.38
- Grade 9.5
- $34.00
- PSA 9
- $31.00
- Gem premium
- 25×
- 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 | $34.00 | +$7.62 | −$17.38 | −$117 |
| PSA 9 | $31.00 | +$4.62 | −$20.38 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $20.00 | −$6.38 | −$31.38 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $1.38 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% | $31.75 | −$19.63 |
| 50% | $32.50 | −$18.88 |
| 75% | $33.25 | −$18.13 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $34.00 |
| 9 | $31.00 |
| 8 | $20.00 |
Run your own numbers
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Full set checklist →Grading Artoo's Icy Vigil #29 — FAQ
Is Artoo's Icy Vigil #29 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Artoo's Icy Vigil #29 sells for $34.00 against $1.38 raw: a $32.62 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) 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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