Is The Ominous Vader #186 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 The Ominous Vader #186 sells for $525 against $1.38 raw: a $524 spread, 380× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($58.11) 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
- PSA 10
- $525
- PSA 9
- $58.11
- Gem premium
- 380×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $525 | +$499 | +$474 | +$374 |
| PSA 9 | $58.11 | +$31.73 | +$6.73 | −$93.27 |
| PSA 8 | $34.00 | +$7.62 | −$17.38 | −$117 |
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% | $175 | +$123 |
| 50% | $292 | +$240 |
| 75% | $408 | +$357 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $683 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $525 | −$158 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $315 | −$368 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $315 | −$368 | 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.
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Grading The Ominous Vader #186 — FAQ
Is The Ominous Vader #186 worth grading?
A PSA 10 The Ominous Vader #186 sells for $525 against $1.38 raw: a $524 spread, 380× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($58.11) 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 The Ominous Vader #186 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 The Ominous Vader #186 (1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back) sells for about $525 versus $1.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 380× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for The Ominous Vader #186?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $683, ahead of PSA 10 at $525. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does The Ominous Vader #186 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.
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