Is Gifted Performer #224 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 Gifted Performer #224 sells for $43.00 against $2.90 raw: a $40.10 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.68) 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)
- $2.90
- Grade 9.5
- $43.00
- PSA 9
- $38.68
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $43.00 | +$15.10 | −$9.90 | −$110 |
| PSA 9 | $38.68 | +$10.78 | −$14.22 | −$114 |
| PSA 8 | $19.99 | −$7.91 | −$32.91 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $2.90 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% | $39.76 | −$13.14 |
| 50% | $40.84 | −$12.06 |
| 75% | $41.92 | −$10.98 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Gifted Performer #224 — FAQ
Is Gifted Performer #224 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Gifted Performer #224 sells for $43.00 against $2.90 raw: a $40.10 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.68) 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.
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