Is I O #51 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back Sticker · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 I O #51 sells for $49.00 against $2.57 raw: a $46.43 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.95) 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)
- $2.57
- Grade 9.5
- $49.00
- PSA 9
- $44.95
- Gem premium
- 19×
- 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 | $49.00 | +$21.43 | −$3.57 | −$104 |
| PSA 9 | $44.95 | +$17.38 | −$7.62 | −$108 |
Net = sale price − $2.57 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% | $45.96 | −$6.61 |
| 50% | $46.98 | −$5.59 |
| 75% | $47.99 | −$4.58 |
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 I O #51 — FAQ
Is I O #51 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 I O #51 sells for $49.00 against $2.57 raw: a $46.43 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.95) 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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