Is Facing the Emperor #116 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1983 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Facing the Emperor #116 sells for $34.00 against $1.95 raw: a $32.05 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) 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)
- $1.95
- Grade 9.5
- $34.00
- PSA 9
- $31.00
- Gem premium
- 17×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $34.00 | +$7.05 | −$17.95 | −$118 |
| PSA 9 | $31.00 | +$4.05 | −$20.95 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $28.33 | +$1.38 | −$23.62 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $1.95 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% | $31.75 | −$20.20 |
| 50% | $32.50 | −$19.45 |
| 75% | $33.25 | −$18.70 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $34.00 |
| 9 | $31.00 |
| 8 | $28.33 |
| 7 | $13.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1983 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Facing the Emperor #116 — FAQ
Is Facing the Emperor #116 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Facing the Emperor #116 sells for $34.00 against $1.95 raw: a $32.05 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.00) 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.
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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