Is On the Verge of Defeat #223 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 On the Verge of Defeat #223 sells for $128 against $0.01 raw: a $127 spread, 12750× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($56.27) 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)
- $0.01
- PSA 10
- $128
- PSA 9
- $56.27
- Gem premium
- 12750×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $128 | +$102 | +$77.49 | −$22.51 |
| PSA 9 | $56.27 | +$31.26 | +$6.26 | −$93.74 |
Net = sale price − $0.01 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% | $74.08 | +$24.07 |
| 50% | $91.89 | +$41.88 |
| 75% | $110 | +$59.68 |
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 | $166 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $128 | −$38.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $77.00 | −$89.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $77.00 | −$89.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $128 | $77.00 | $166 | $77.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $62.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $56.27 |
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 On the Verge of Defeat #223 — FAQ
Is On the Verge of Defeat #223 worth grading?
A PSA 10 On the Verge of Defeat #223 sells for $128 against $0.01 raw: a $127 spread, 12750× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($56.27) 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 On the Verge of Defeat #223 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 On the Verge of Defeat #223 (1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back) sells for about $128 versus $0.01 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12750× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for On the Verge of Defeat #223?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $166, ahead of PSA 10 at $128. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does On the Verge of Defeat #223 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.
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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