Is A Hasty Retreat #298 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 A Hasty Retreat #298 sells for $182 against $2.25 raw: a $180 spread, 81× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.00) 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)
- $2.25
- PSA 10
- $182
- PSA 9
- $30.00
- Gem premium
- 81×
- 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 | $182 | +$155 | +$130 | +$30.00 |
| PSA 9 | $30.00 | +$2.75 | −$22.25 | −$122 |
Net = sale price − $2.25 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% | $68.06 | +$15.81 |
| 50% | $106 | +$53.88 |
| 75% | $144 | +$91.94 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 15%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $237 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $182 | −$54.75 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $109 | −$128 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $109 | −$128 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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 A Hasty Retreat #298 — FAQ
Is A Hasty Retreat #298 worth grading?
A PSA 10 A Hasty Retreat #298 sells for $182 against $2.25 raw: a $180 spread, 81× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.00) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 A Hasty Retreat #298 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 A Hasty Retreat #298 (1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back) sells for about $182 versus $2.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 81× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for A Hasty Retreat #298?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $237, ahead of PSA 10 at $182. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does A Hasty Retreat #298 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.
What gem rate makes grading A Hasty Retreat #298 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting A Hasty Retreat #298 breaks even when it gems about 15% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $30.00).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Star Wars card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
