Published on March 30, 2026
Propstore’s latest auction kicked off with a bang as the rarest piece of Star Wars memorabilia in years changed hands for seven figures. A million dollars for a disembodied robot head is just a normal day for wealthy collectors in the world of high-end movie collectibles.
The light-up C-3PO head used during the production of The Empire Strikes Back sold at Propstore’s ongoing entertainment memorabilia auction for an astonishing $1,058,400, blowing past the auction house’s estimate of $350,000 to $700,000. This sale firmly places the golden protocol droid into the exclusive club of movie props that have crossed the seven-figure threshold.
What makes this particular head particularly remarkable isn’t just the price; it’s the scarcity. According to Propstore, this is “the only known example of Threepio’s head from the second film to appear on the collector market.” Simply put, there isn’t another one—it’s a unique artifact.
To put the sale into perspective, last year someone paid nearly $4 million for Darth Vader’s lightsaber, making C-3PO’s cranium seem like a relative bargain . Nonetheless, a million dollars for a prop head underscores the seriousness of the Star Wars collectible market.
The auction isn’t limited to the Star Wars franchise; fans of another cinematic classic also opened their wallets. A pair of props from Jaws, highly esteemed relics from one of Hollywood’s most notoriously chaotic film productions, also garnered significant amounts. Quint’s harpoon gun and custom VFX shark dart sold for $327,600, while his fishing rod and reel went for $239,400.
Propstore’s auction runs until March 27, offering a window for collectors to make bids on coveted items. For those not ready to spend a fortune, there’s always the option of purchasing an action figure.
In detail, the sold item is a screen-matched light-up C-3PO head from George Lucas’ Star Wars: A New Hope. C-3PO voiced the first on-screen dialogue in A New Hope and remains one of the only characters to appear in all nine films of the Star Wars saga, making Threepio one of the most memorable robots in cinematic history.
The head is notably marked the forehead, chin, and left eyebrow, a result of the attack on C-3PO, Luke, and Artoo . Although at least two damaged-style Threepio costume heads were created for the film, the crushing and denting effects were sculpted , ensuring each head’s uniqueness. This particular piece screen-matched to iconic scenes where C-3PO communicates with Luke, Leia, and Han in the trash compactor, as well as during the climactic medal ceremony at the end of the film. Remarkably, it stands as the only complete C-3PO helmet from A New Hope currently in private collection and is offered directly from Anthony Daniels.
Daniels, who portrayed C-3PO in the costume and provided the voice, is the only actor to appear in all Star Wars theatrical releases. The enduring popularity of C-3PO is a testament to Daniels’ effective performances.
C-3PO’s design originated from legendary concept artist Ralph McQuarrie. Daniels fell in love with the character upon seeing McQuarrie’s concepts, which had drawn inspiration from Walter Schulze-Mittendorff’s Maschinenmensch “Maria” robot from Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis. Upon being cast, Daniels underwent a lengthy process to mold his face, torso, and limbs to create the costume itself. Multiple versions of the head were sculpted, with the now-iconic design chosen .
Fitting the costume was not without challenges. The head was often left on Daniels for long stretches between camera setups, limiting his vision and hearing, with the small mouth hole serving as the sole source of fresh air. The illuminating “photoreceptor” eyes were specially designed to prevent blinding Daniels when turned on; black material was used behind the lights to shield his eyes.
The C-3PO helmet consists of three major components: a backplate, faceplate, and neck-ring, all secured with neck-bolts and forehead antennae. Each of these components features unique physical characteristics original to A New Hope. Aluminium details, crafted and individually installed, were used for the head’s back and mouth, while later films utilized casting methods.
The costume head incorporates eyes that are not original to A New Hope but were fitted during production of The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi. These eyes are currently secured with tape and retain their wiring connected to a recently installed battery pack.
After years of being in Daniels’ private collection, which he used for promotional events, the head has seen restoration, rejuvenating its appearance to match the finish during the medal ceremony scene. This specific piece also appears on the cover of Daniels’ memoir, I Am C-3PO – The Inside Story.
Featuring illuminating eyes activated switch, the costume head is presented on a custom display stand and comes with stills from the film and a letter of authenticity from Daniels. C-3PO remains one of cinema’s most recognizable designs, making this screen-matched costume head a significant artifact from the original Star Wars film to hit the market.
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