Is Darth Vader #122 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 Darth Vader #122 sells for $87.00 against $2.96 raw: a $84.04 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($78.77) 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)
- $2.96
- Grade 9.5
- $87.00
- PSA 9
- $78.77
- Gem premium
- 29×
- 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 | $87.00 | +$59.04 | +$34.04 | −$65.96 |
| PSA 9 | $78.77 | +$50.81 | +$25.81 | −$74.19 |
| PSA 8 | $24.94 | −$3.02 | −$28.02 | −$128 |
Net = sale price − $2.96 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% | $80.83 | +$27.87 |
| 50% | $82.88 | +$29.92 |
| 75% | $84.94 | +$31.98 |
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 | $87.00 |
| 9 | $78.77 |
| 8 | $24.94 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader #122 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #122 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #122 sells for $87.00 against $2.96 raw: a $84.04 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($78.77) 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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