A golden relic from a galaxy far, far away just fetched more than a million dollars here on Earth.
On March 25, a light-up C-3PO head used in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) sold at a Propstore auction for $1,058,400 — far higher than the estimate of $350,000 to $700,000. According to the auction house, the item had belonged to the family of a crew member who worked on the film.
The Spring Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction was held on March 25 in Los Angeles, where more than 250 rare film and television lots sold on Day 1 alone, netting $6.5 million including buyer's premiums.
The C-3PO head was the only known example of the character's head from the second Star Wars film to appear on the collector market, and it proved to be one of the most significant results of the day.
The prop is notable for more than just its rarity. It features illuminating photoreceptor eyes specifically designed to prevent blinding actor Anthony Daniels during filming — a black material was installed behind the lights, leaving only small viewing ports. The right eye retains its original wiring from production, while the left eye's wiring has been replaced. The head was also intentionally distressed and tarnished to give C-3PO a weathered look, a contrast to the polished golden appearance the droid sported at the end of A New Hope.
The sale was a milestone in more ways than one. It surpassed the $843,051 paid for a C-3PO head from A New Hope at a 2023 Propstore auction, making it the most expensive C-3PO prop ever sold.
Brandon Alinger, Propstore's chief operating officer, said in a statement: "At Propstore, Star Wars material continues to resonate with collectors, and the C-3PO head from The Empire Strikes Back was a real highlight of the day."
The sale adds to a remarkable run for Star Wars memorabilia at auction. In September 2025, Propstore sold a lightsaber used by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi for $3,654,000 — still the highest price ever paid for any Star Wars item at auction.
Other notable Day 1 results from the spring auction included Quint's harpoon gun from Jaws at $327,600, the Shards of Narsil from The Lord of the Rings at $252,000, and the Marauder's Map from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban at $59,850.
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It features illuminating photoreceptor eyes specifically designed to prevent blinding actor Anthony Daniels during filming
