Click on a grade below to read the descriptive grading criteria associated with each grade.
1
POOR
100 - 149
CENTERING
The front and or back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
Corners aren’t just rounded, but are misshaped. Parts of the corners? have fallen off or have been torn off because of excessive wear and handling.
SURFACE
A combination of any of the significant flaws mentioned above are present. Tape or glue may be present on the front of the card.
EDGES
All above defects are present. Multiple portions of the image of the card worn away or obstructed by any of these edge defects. Larger tear(s) present.
10
TAG PRISTINE
990 - 1000
CENTERING
Front image centered within a tolerance of ~51/49 and back image within ~54.5/45.5 (Sports) or ~52/48 (TCG).
CORNERS
A card will display virtually flawless corners. No visible wear or fraying. Under high resolution imagery, the corners appear sharp and crisp with little to no fill or fray artifacts.
SURFACE
A flawless surface, exhibiting only Non-Human Observable Defects (NHOD’s).
EDGES
A card will display virtually flawless edges. Under high resolution imagery, the edges have very minor fill or fray artifacts.
10
GEM MINT
950 - 989
CENTERING
Front image centered within a tolerance of ~55/45 and back image within ~70/30 (Sports), or ~65/35 (TCG).
CORNERS
A card will display 4 sharp corners, showing minor fill or fray artifacts. Very minor surface wear may be visible under high resolution imagery. A light but visible corner touch or two may be apparent on the reverse. The corners will still be sharp & square.
SURFACE
An extremely attractive surface. A slight print imperfection may appear under hi-res imagery. A very minor defect such as a very small pit, light scratch that does not penetrate the gloss or a light print or refractor line may be present. Scoring is impacted by region. Back may have multiple print lines as well as a larger, deeper pit.
EDGES
An edge may display minor fill or fray. Very minor edge surface wear may be visible under high resolution imagery.
9
MINT
900 - 949
CENTERING
Front image centered within a tolerance of ~60/40 and back image within ~90/10 (Sports) or ~75/25 (TCG).
CORNERS
Corners will still appear sharp and square. Up to two very light corner touches, where the stock has been compromised, and are visible on the front of the card, may be present. Multiple corner touches on the back will be present. More significant fill or fray artifacts are present under high resolution imagery.
SURFACE
A larger and deeper pit may be present. May have 2 or 3 small pits and/or a longer scratch not penetrating the gloss. May have a light but present print line or refractor line that runs the length of the card, vertically or horizontally. Has a minor print imperfection or multiple spots. A small scratch that penetrates the gloss on the back is visible. Multiple, more visible print lines present.
EDGES
Visible but minor edge surface wear on one or two edges. More significant fill or fray artifacts are present under high resolution imagery.
8.5
NEAR MINT - MINT+
850 - 899
CENTERING
Front image centered within a tolerance of ~62.5/37.5 and the back centered within ~95/5 (Sports) or ~85/15 (TCG).
CORNERS
Corners will still appear sharp and square. Multiple light corner touches on the front, where the stock has been compromised are visible. A small amount of missing stock may be present on the back corners. Fray artifacts become more visible.
SURFACE
Multiple surface defects are presenting themselves. A small scratch penetrates the gloss of the card is present. Multiple refractor or print lines are present. Very minor scuffing might be present. Subtle focus imperfections might be present around the image or logos.
EDGES
Visible edge surface wear or light chipping on multiple edges on the front. Fray artifacts may become more visible.
8
NEAR MINT - MINT
800 - 849
CENTERING
Front image centered within a tolerance of ~65/35. For TCG, backs should be centered within a ~95/5. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
A corner may start to show minor wear. Other corners still appear square but display light corner touches on the front. The back corners show a little more wear. Fray artifacts continue to become more visible and significant, while very minor areas of fill, start to show under high resolution imagery.
SURFACE
Several defects mentioned above are present. The combination of any, depending on their size, area and location are all factors. Minor but larger areas of print imperfections are present. A minor roller line might be visible on the front or back.
EDGES
Edge surface wear and minor chipping is present on all four edges. Fray artifacts continue to become more visible and significant while very minor areas of fill start to show under high resolution imagery. Slightly more tolerance (can this be quantified) is given to the back of the card where surface wear and chipping are present. Minor lifting to the edge may start to become visible.
7.5
NEAR MINT+
750 - 799
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~67.5/32.5 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
Corners will show a little more wear and may start to lose their sharpness. All four corners on the front may have touches where the stock has been compromised and are visible. Slight fraying on the corner surface will be present.
SURFACE
A very minor dent to the front of the cards surface might be visible. All defects continue to become more prevalent. Multiple visible defects in and around the facial region (most impactful).
EDGES
Edge surface wear and chipping continue to worsen. Areas of fray become larger and more visible. More significant lifting to an edge or minor lifting on multiple edges are visible. The edges start to lose their smoothness and show a rougher appearance.
7
NEAR MINT
700 - 749
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~70/30 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
Corners still appear square but multiple corners display fraying on the corner surfaces. A slight bend or hit to the corner that compromises the card surface might be present. Larger artifacts of fray on the corners edge are clearly visible.
SURFACE
A minor dent might now impact both the front and back of the card. Multiple print dots (print defects) throughout the card are visible.
EDGES
A minor “notch”, which starts to impact on the edges surface, might become visible. Lifting to all four edges visible. Edge surface wear and chipping now completely visible.
6.5
EXCELLENT - MINT+
650 - 699
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~72.5/27.5 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
A corner may start losing its shape due to more excessive corner surface wear, a bend or dinged corner or a larger area of fill that distorts the appearance of a corner. Three or four corners showing significant fraying or chipping to the corner surface.
SURFACE
All of the above may be visible and continuing to worsen. The appearance of a very short wrinkle coming off an edge on the back could be present under high resolution imagery. A small area of water damage could be present on the back.
EDGES
Minor notch on two edges might be present. Fray artifacts are clearly visible and areas of fill that start to give the appearance of waviness to the edge might be present.
6
EXCELLENT - MINT
600 - 649
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~75/25 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
One corner may start to show some slight rounding. Fraying is more prevalent on multiple corners. Multiple corners may start to show more significant wear on both the front and back of the card. A slight bend or ding is now clearly present on a corner.
SURFACE
A longer, more visible wrinkle is present on the back. Light staining may start to appear on the back of the card as well. Larger dent or multiple minor dents could be present. More significant surface scuffs are present in a single area. The focus of the card is off, demonstrating a two for one effect on certain objects (eyes, buttons, letters, logo on hat, etc).
EDGES
Minor notches on three or more edges, or one severe notch on a single edge are present. Larger areas of chipping that significantly impact the cards surface are present. Roughness continues to worsen.
5.5
EXCELLENT+
550 - 599
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~77.5/22.5 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
Very minor corner rounding will be present on one or two corners. A more severe bend or slight wrinkle may now be present on a corners surface.
SURFACE
A small wrinkle on the front of the card may be present. Multiple small wrinkles on the back are possible. Light staining to the front of the card is visible. Small area of water damage present on front.
EDGES
A severe notch on two edges present. Larger areas of chipping on multiple edges impacting the card’s surface may be apparent.
5
EXCELLENT
500 - 549
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~80/20 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
Rounding of a corner or two becomes slightly more significant. Larger areas of corner surface wear or chipping are visible. All four corners have lost their squareness due to surface wear, dings or fill issues. Excessive fray artifacts visible and distracting on multiple corners.
SURFACE
Multiple small wrinkles present on the front. A larger area of staining is visible. Multiple areas of surface scuffing now visible. Loss of original gloss becomes visible.
EDGES
Notches and chipping visible on the same edge or edges. Fray, fill and roughness significantly impacting the edge.
4.5
VERY GOOD - EXCELLENT+
450 - 499
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~82.5/17.5 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
A corner is clearly rounded and is accompanied by an area of corner surface wear, fraying or chipping. Multiple corners with bends or dings impacting the corner surface are visible.
SURFACE
A minor crease is visible, breaking the stock on the front or back. A crease will usually have a minor impact on the opposite side of the card. A larger wrinkle that spans into the facial scoring region.
EDGES
Roughness of the edge continues to worsen. Notches, chipping appear on multiple edges, front and back. Fray artifacts are large and distracting to the appearance of the edge.
4
VERY GOOD - EXCELLENT
400 - 449
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~85/15 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
Two or three corners are clearly rounded and accompanied by areas of corner surface wear, fraying or chipping. Bends, dings and surface wear all continue to become more prevalent if the corners are not rounded. The corners surface area becomes impacted on multiple corners.
SURFACE
A minor crease is visible on both sides of the card possibly. A wrinkle spanning vertically or horizontally approximately half way across the card is clearly visible. Larger areas of staining present on the front, multiple larger areas on the back. Water damage present over larger portion of the card.
EDGES
Edge surface wear is evident and there is dirtiness to the underlying stock.
3.5
VERY GOOD+
350 - 399
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~87.5/12.5 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
All four corners are rounded. All aspects of a corner or corners continue to worsen. Bends are slightly larger, dings become more visible, the corners surface is impacted further, etc.
SURFACE
A light wrinkle spanning approximately three-quarters of the cards back horizontally is present. Multiple minor creases potentially visible. Scuffing is more severe and the surface on the back may start to be worn away, hindering the ability to read parts of the bio or stats.
EDGES
All of the above continue to persist. Noticeable areas of fill are visible from excessive wear and handling.
3
VERY GOOD
300 - 349
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~90/10 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
Four rounded corners, bordering on extreme rounding where a corners roundness starts to appear outside of the corner area. Corner fraying becomes “Dirty” as the underlying stock has been exposed for some significant amount of time. Significant bends which start causing multiple corners to display severe surface defects in the corner area.
SURFACE
Heavier wrinkles or creases may be present. Still just one wrinkle spanning horizontally across the card is visible. There may be a wrinkle spanning approximately three-quarters of the cards back vertically. Most of the card’s gloss is now gone.
EDGES
All edge defects continue to worsen. Significant fill and fray artifacts, severe notches, large areas of chipping, dirtiness to underlying stock and roughness to the edges are present.
2.5
GOOD+
250 - 299
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~92.5/7.5 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
Up to four rounded corners showing extreme rounding. The roundness of these corners starts to get outside of the corner areas, impacting the card’s edges.
SURFACE
Wrinkles and creases become heavier. A wrinkle spanning the length of the card vertically is present. Significant print defects, stains, focus issues are present. Scuffing to the point where a word or number is worn away on the back or where parts of the image become blurry or unrecognizable on front.
EDGES
All defects above are present, but now aspects of one or more are creeping deeper into the cards surface from one edge, impacting overall appeal of the card.
2
GOOD
200 - 249
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~95/5 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
All four corners starting to show extreme rounding and dirtiness.
SURFACE
Multiple full-length wrinkles or heavier creases continue to persist. A GOOD card may exhibit one of the following significant flaws. A pinhole allowing light to shine through the puncture area. Minor area of glue on the reverse.
EDGES
All defects above are present, but now aspects of one or more are creeping deeper into the cards surface from multiple edges, more severely impacting the appeal of the card. One edge of the card may exhibit a minor tear.
1.5
FAIR
150 - 199
CENTERING
Image centered within a tolerance of ~98.33/1.67 on the front. The back may show a tiny sliver of border, but may not be miscut or have a portion of another card displayed.
CORNERS
Continued worsening to the rounding of the corners. The corner may start to appear to be falling apart because the stock is compromised and worn to the point that it is hanging on by a fiber.
SURFACE
Several characteristics mentioned above are present. A FAIR card may exhibit one of the following significant flaws. Staple holes allowing light to shine through the puncture areas. Scotch tape residue relegated to the back of the card.
EDGES
All defects above are present, but now aspects of one or more are creeping even deeper into
the card’s surface from all edges, more severely impacting the appeal of the card. Portions of the image
of the card may be worn away or obstructed by any of these defects. More significant tear to one edge
or multiple minor tears to an edge or multiple edges may exist.
10
TAG PRISTINE
990 - 1000
CENTERING
Front image centered within a tolerance of ~51/49 and back image within ~54.5/45.5 (Sports) or ~52/48 (TCG).
CORNERS
A card will display virtually flawless corners. No visible wear or fraying. Under high resolution imagery, the corners appear sharp and crisp with little to no fill or fray artifacts.
SURFACE
A flawless surface, exhibiting only Non-Human Observable Defects (NHOD’s).
EDGES
A card will display virtually flawless edges. Under high resolution imagery, the edges have very minor fill or fray artifacts.
