Is The Confrontation #106 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 The Confrontation #106 sells for $96.00 against $2.09 raw: a $93.91 spread, 46× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($87.00) 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)
- $2.09
- Grade 9.5
- $96.00
- PSA 9
- $87.00
- Gem premium
- 46×
- 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 | $96.00 | +$68.91 | +$43.91 | −$56.09 |
| PSA 9 | $87.00 | +$59.91 | +$34.91 | −$65.09 |
| PSA 8 | $29.32 | +$2.23 | −$22.77 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $2.09 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% | $89.25 | +$37.16 |
| 50% | $91.50 | +$39.41 |
| 75% | $93.75 | +$41.66 |
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 | $96.00 |
| 9 | $87.00 |
| 8 | $29.32 |
| 7 | $12.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading The Confrontation #106 — FAQ
Is The Confrontation #106 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 The Confrontation #106 sells for $96.00 against $2.09 raw: a $93.91 spread, 46× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($87.00) 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.
Check my card free